News from Ron's desk 19 Eleventh Sunday after Trinity .
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News from Ron’s desk 19 [Eleventh Sunday after Trinity]……. Any volunteers for Secretary of State for Education? You might be tempted to say that the current incumbent couldn’t run a --------- in a brewery! But if you enter politics you must be prepared to be dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. However there does seem to be something amiss in the decision making process of some of our leaders. In a democracy you have to listen to the people but you also have to make consistent policy decisions and the ballot box is the way to change them not the placards on the street. We might end up with a generation that is obsessed about ‘their stress’ and perceived ‘lack of fairness’- their words. Don’t get me wrong, I have every sympathy for today’s students and we have the perfect ingredients for a storm, political leadership that flounders in extraordinary circumstances and students who need to face a future where public exams might again be at odds with tutor assessment. There can be little doubt that our younger generation are facing difficult circumstances, whether it be at key points in their education or the transition to work in an economic downturn. And that has consequences not just for themselves but their families and communities. There is no magic wand but we owe it to them to have a sense of purpose and direction, a ‘rock’ for them in their time of need. But where are we to find that? Certainly we should not give up on the political process. For myself I would like to see two things in education, fewer exam Boards and less of the politicisation which has teachers facing changes in methodology as often as governments! So I recognise that we cannot function without strong government and that means politics! But they alone cannot in my view provide our only guiding principles. Where else can we turn? No prizes for guessing for my direction of travel! If you have an alternative I am a very liberal editor of this newsletter. I don’t look to the Bible and faith to give me answers to the problems of the day. God help us that we should live in a theocracy like the Iranians! But I do look for something that will hearten us whatever our age and give us a purpose and principle for living. When Isaiah was writing(see readings for this Sunday below), Israel as a people had more than an education dilemma. They were in captivity in Babylonia, life was hard and hopeless. Isaiah points to ‘rock from which you were hewn’ and gives them renewed vision. Their situation was not immediately rectified but it was transformed to a positive future. Paul, writing in the letter to the Romans, is very down to earth for him! We should not be ‘conformed to this world’. That may not fill us with much hope, but where we start is remarkably humbling. Paul asks you ‘not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think’. You won’t find that advice in many classrooms or Departments of State. But he adds we all have gifts that we must discover and use them to compliment each other. Yes, this is common sense, but we need to be reminded of these teachings and where is that reminder to come from in today’s society? Finally if we need an example of a ‘rock’ in the shifting sand then the gospel from Matthew gives us Jesus’s title for Peter. This should give us all heart because even rocks can be shaky at times! But what matters, as with Peter, is that we come right at the end of the day. When I was a student (a very long time ago) a friend endlessly played ‘I Am a rock’ by Simon & Garfunkel. It’s about a recluse locking himself away from the world. It may explain why we went in different directions after graduation! Our ‘rocks’ were different! Readings for Sunday: Isaiah 51.1-6, Romans 12.1-8 & Matthew 16.13-20 1
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour — from violent men You save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. — 2 Samuel 22:2-4 A prayer to steady the ship ! God of the future, for such a long time we have lived without hope. Who needed it, when our busy, distracted lives, kept us living only for the present, and provided ready escape from reality? Now we do, because frightening times have unnerved us, death has a new inescapability about it, our deepest insecurities are surfacing. Yesterday’s comfortable certainties, have given way to today’s paralysis and panic. We grasp for something solid, to slow spinning minds. We have a hope in Jesus, who is able to steady the ship. May we show it and sow it, as we move among others, that the world may rediscover safety, security, serenity in you. God of hope, in this moment, fill us with all joy and peace. Amen For our prayers: - for the Government and all in positions of community leadership - for the uncertainties in our lives created by the pandemic - for those who need medical care and must wait for care to be available - for the teachers and staff of Twyning School taking their summer break but preparing for the challenges of the new school year. - for all who face fianacial concerns and are fearful of losing their jobs - for those who find going out and re-establishing ‘normal’ patterns of life a daunting prospect 2
Place of witness worth stopping for (from an article by Ted Harrison which appeared in the Church Times and may strike a chord!) APART from one sneaky, two-minute visit to my local church, when I spotted that the churchwarden had opened up to check the building, I hadn’t been inside a church for 125 days. That was until the other day, when, to my delight, I came across an ancient country church in the heart of Wales, tried the big iron handle on the old studded door, and found, to my surprise and delight, that the door opened. I had never been to that particular church before, but going inside was like meeting an old friend — one of those friends one doesn’t often see, but the moment you are together you pick up the friendship exactly where you left it. Everything inside the church was so comfortingly typical and familiar. It was a plain, 13th-century structure, with straight-backed Victorian pews, whitewashed walls, unpretentious pulpit, unfussy sanctuary — indeed, few embellishments of any kind, bar a couple of modest memorials to long-dead squires. There were prayer books in a neat row on a shelf at the back of the church; numbers were still on the hymn board from the last service; and a visitors’ book, with just one entry since mid-March (and that was dated the day before) — a veritable time capsule of rural Anglicanism. It was a place where 800 years of the prayers and stories of a community were absorbed into the walls. Some people, I am sure, would have looked around and seen nothing but a sad reminder of the continuing and relentless decline in churchgoing and rural life The church was in a glorious position that had been first been consecrated as a sacred Christian place when a hermit settled there in the Dark Ages. In the churchyard was a holy well, now almost completely hidden by brambles. And there were several great yew trees, which may well have been growing before the church was built. What was missing was a community for the church to serve. There must once have been a village, but, today, the church stands in complete isolation. It can be reached only down a narrow, winding, no-through lane. There is no passing traffic. I am sure that it would have still had a small, ageing, dedicated congregation who, pre-Covid, would drive there for Sunday worship. There was, I am sure, no longer a vicar — just, I guess, an over-worked priest-in-charge who would rush in to take occasional services before rushing off to his or her next appointment. What a change from the days when the church had its own incumbent who lived in the grand Georgian house a mile away across the fields. A DISTANT planner in a diocesan office would be forgiven for wondering what purpose the church served. It is, no doubt, high up on a bishop’s list for closure. Tastefully converted, it would make a wonderful rural retreat for a wealthy Londoner, and, by selling it, the diocese could raise thousands of pounds. With central funds’ having taken a nasty hit from the fall-off in income because of coronavirus, the money would come in very handy. 3
And yet I know that the church serves a purpose that cannot appear on a balance sheet. Situated on
a cross-country footpath as it is, there were walkers inside who had called in on their way past.
From the evidence of the visitors’ book, it would appear that, in normal times, the church is seen by
a steady stream of hikers. It stands as a witness to the eternal nature of God in a frantic world.
It has seen wars, famines, and plagues, but remained constant. It was there during the years of the
Black Death. It stood firm during the Civil War. It has seen religious fashions swing from
Catholicism to Puritanism and back again. It has been at the heart of celebrations and mourning. It
has survived upheavals and disruptions of all kinds. It will long outlive any memories of the Covid-
19 lockdown.
We are currently going through a general period of decline in formal religious practice. This,
coupled with the depopulation of the countryside, means that the old purpose of churches such as
this one is changing. They are no longer parish churches for the families, farms, and workers living
around, but places for outsiders to discover — often by chance. They are resting places for walkers.
Places for them to shelter, pause, and, in the silence, reflect. A kind of spiritual service station on the
journey through life.
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Twyning Parish Church is open daily
There are just a few necessary precautions to observe:
Please use the hand sanitisers entering and leaving the building, touching as little as possible!
If anybody else is present please respect the social distancing.
And if you want a bible or a prayer book please take one with you. I am happy to provide you with
a copy for your personal use.
There is a Holy Communion Service every Sunday morning at 9.30am. Despite the necessity to
wear masks the shortened
format seems to be
appreciated!
Parish Notes
- Congratulation to Jamie & Gemma Munro on their 1st Wedding Anniversary. We had special
flowers in Church to celebrate this event.
- Our best wishes to James Wright & Jessie Lawrence who preparing for their wedding next month.
4- I recently visited and took communion to Phyllis Bailey who at the age of 104 can no longer visit
our Church but managed a lovely smile and sends her best wishes. She is frail now and would
appreciate our prayers.
From our Lay Minister, Angela Cole : We will shortly be celebrating the 2 nd anniversaries of two
Baptisms held at Twyning Church
- of Elsie Margaret this week and of Aila Isabelle in the first week of September.
Please remember the two girls and their families in your prayers.
'See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called
children of God; and that is what we are.' 1 John 3:1.
- We are not receiving donations of food for the Tewkesbury Foodbank at this time but they are
preparing for raised demand in the very near future, given the state of the economy. Monetary
donations are currently the best way to help. We gave given assistance from the Parish Church but
more funds are needed. If you want to make a donation then Richard Bailey will be happy to pass it
through the Church account, which can increase the amount given.
- If you or anybody you know needs assistance from the Foodbank I am holding vouchers which I
can confidentially allocate.
- To note in your diary - the delayed APCM (Annual Parish Church Meeting) will be held in the
Parish Church on Tuesday 22 September at 7.30pm. This will be followed by a meeting of the
PCC.
- Twyning Church Organ is a star!
Dr Andrew Hayden, Casework & Conservation Officer of the British Institute of Organ Studies
visited our Church on 7th August. The organisation publishes a calendar every year for organ
lovers entitled
‘Star Organs of Britain’
which purposely features instruments ‘off the beaten track’,
hidden gems rather than the obvious delights of cathedrals and major parish churches.
Andrew wants to include Twyning in the calendar and that was the reason for his visit to photograph
our Organ, which last year received a listing in the Historic Organs guide.
He was pleased to see us and delighted the Church was open every day.
Andrew made his arrangements with Richard who welcomed him to Twyning, Bill opened up the
Organ, Caroline & Pam were doing flowers whilst he took pictures, and Ron called in to see him.
(Organist Junie was in deepest Wales so missed him).
Thank you to all who have been in contact with encouragement about the newsletter. If you
have any news including happy events such as birthdays, anniversaries etc...do let me know.
5Churchyar
d
Will
Williams &
Richard
Bailey been
doing more
than the
lion’s share of keeping our Churchyard in good order. Naturally recent events have depleted our
team but we would be glad to see you back as soon as circumstances allow. Do let me know when
you are available to cover your patch. Meanwhile a date for your diary...Churchyard Working
Party….to get us looking ship shape before Harvest Festival and Winter….Saturday 19 September
from 0930am with socially distanced refreshments!
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Not everything is cancelled -
Every September we support ‘RIDE & STRIDE’ an opportunity to cycle and walk locally to
support the Historic Churches Trust and this year Richard Bailey trusts that it will be business as
more or less usual for this event. He writes:
Hello PCC members and friends who support Ride & Stride,
My thoughts are to have a half day morning or afternoon ride on Saturday 12 September starting
from Twyning Church via the road past Puckrup and the Bow to
Ripple Church then via the road through Naunton to
Hill Croome Church and then over the M5 bridge to
Strensham Church and return to the Village Green to disperse.
The main aim is to be together to enjoy the ride AND to collect sponsorship money towards church
maintenance.
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I know that some of you like to have the readings ahead of the appropriate Sunday, so my thanks to
Angela Cole for putting the following list together:
READINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 2020
Date Readings Page
number
(small lectionary
for practice)
66th September Ezekiel 33.7-11 315
Thirteenth Sunday after Romans 13.8-14 316
Trinity Matthew 18.15-20 317
13th September Genesis 50.15-21 321
Fourteenth Sunday after Romans 14.1-12 322
Trinity Matthew 18.21-35 323
20th September Jonah 3.10-4.11 327
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Philippians 1.21-30 329
Matthew 20.1-16 329
27th September Ezekiel 18.1-4.25-32 332
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Philippians 2.1-33 334
Matthew 21.23-32 335
Repeated each newsletter – as this information might be helpful to you:
Twyning Village Shop; 01684 276031. Delivery available on all items Tuesday( order by 6pm
Monday) and Saturday ( order by 6pm Friday). £10 minimum spend - no delivery charge. Pay
online (free) or by card over the phone (50p). Offering contactless payments to those self isolating.
Revills Farm Shop: 01386 750466. Delivers Veg boxes Tuesday and Thursday - can add bread and
milk ( photo of details attached). Also offering their full cafe menu as takeaway ( photo of menu
7attached). They also offer ready meals/ soups etc and can cater for different diets - order by phone.
Pay over the phone. Collection from their car park if preferred.
Halford Butchers, Tewkesbury; 01684 299933. Open 9-3(Mon/Tues) and 9-4(Wed-Sat). Will take
telephone orders to be collected at door of shop.
Cotteswold Dairy. 01242 672426 - currently limited to existing customers but will add items to
existing dairy orders.
Village Inn, Twyning; 01684 293500. Takeaway menu available ( photo of menu attached).
Payment over the phone. Delivery is an option.
Uncle Chen at The Crown, Shuthonger. 01684 293714. Chinese takeaway menu available for
delivery - full menu online. Order and pay over the phone/
Thrishna Indian restaurant, Tewkesbury. 01684 594900 or 07966217054
www.thrishnacuisine.uk Full menu online for delivery. Order and pay over the phone.
Tillys, Tewkesbury; 01684 275068. www.tillysoftewkesbury.co.uk Feed Me Club offers delivery
of freezable meals.
Smokey Dough Pizza - 07738290591 - Pizza delivery on Saturdays in Twyning. Order and pay by
phone
THANK YOU…..after an appeal I made in church on behalf of Embrace(a charity that works in the
Middle East and supplies are annual Carol sheets) we have been able to send a cheque from our
funds for £100 for relief in Lebanon. We can be sure that sent through this charity it will go directly
to those in most need.
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As some of you may know Richard Bailey and I are Rotarians and the Tewkesbury Rotary Club
gives a lot of support to local charities. Sadly this year our major fund raising event, the annual
Classic Car Festival has had to be cancelled and this will curtail many of our donations to local
groups. However one of fellow Rotarians is riding his bike up and down Bredon Hill to cover the
same height as Everest. He’s no spring chicken so pray for him and if you would like to donate this
magnificent effort speak to Richard Bailey who is treasurer of Rotary as well as our Church.
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And any suggested caption for this?
The next edition is week commencing 7 September. Your contributions will be welcome.
8Take care and God bless. 9
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