APRIL 2021 - Barrow and Wolds Group

APRIL
2021

If you have an item for the MAY magazine
          please submit it to Richard Hudson (editor) at 01509 413185
                      or richardhudson847@btinternet.com
                            by TUESDAY 13th APRIL

                          THE MINISTRY TEAM
      The joint benefice of Barrow, Walton, Wymeswold & Prestwold

Rev’d Clive Watts (Priest in charge)07534 899522 (Day off Friday)
                                    rev.clive.watts@barrowandwoldsgroup.com
Rev’d Fiona Cotton-Betteridge       07903 665912 (Working Fri., Sat., Sunday)
                                    rev.fiona@barrowandwoldsgroup.com
Pam Knowles (Reader Minister) 36 Ribble Drive, Barrow upon Soar 01509 412774

For general enquiries or for Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals please complete the
enquiries forms on our website or contact Hannah in the Church Office or the
Rev’d Clive Watts.

Website                            www.barrowandwoldsgroup.com

CHURCH OFFICE - Administrator: Hannah White
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday 10.30am-1.30pm, Thursday 10am – 11am
               01509 416520 enquiries@barrowandwoldsgroup.com

For pastoral matters (ministry to the sick, bereaved or housebound) please contact
any of the following:
Rev’d Clive Watts rev.clive.watts@barrowandwoldsgroup.com              07534 899522
Rev’d Fiona Cotton-Betteridge rev.fiona@barrowandwoldsgroup.com 07903 665912
Pam Knowles           pak36@hotmail.co.uk                               01509 412774
Beverley Lott         b.lott1509@gmail.com                             01509 412876
David Spencer         david@spencer-watts.com                           07905 230825

 If you would like to receive this magazine regularly
or would like to receive a large-print version of future
    issues, please contact Ruth Boothey on 413811.

APRIL – EASTER & SPRING
Another month has past, the spring equinox is past (we now have more
than 12 hours when the sun is potentially above the horizon), the
season of Spring has begun and Easter is almost with us.
I hope you are all able to feel positive about the future as the weather
improves, infection rates fall across the country and more and more
people are being vaccinated. Throughout March the church has been in
the season of Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter during which
Rev’d. Clive has shared weekly ‘Lent Thoughts’ which can all still be
seen on www.barrowandwolds.com and the Thursday evening Zoom
Lent Study Groups have proved to be stimulating and challenging. And
now we come to Palm Sunday on March 28th and Holy Week which
culminates with the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter
Sunday. On the next page you will find full details of the services
planned for that period and information about how to join us for any
or all of these. A month ago we had hoped to be able to open our
church for Easter Sunday but advice from our bishop based on the
above-average infection rates across much of the county has meant
that this reopening has had to be delayed.
Speaking of services, over 70 people were in our Zoom congregation on
Mothering Sunday (March 14th). This day was, of course, the focus of
our ‘Raise a Ribbon for Her’ event with coloured ribbons streaming
from the Holy Trinity flagpole. I do hope you had the chance to see this
most impressive sight. If not, I’m certain there will be a repeat next
year. You’ll find pictures and full report including our TV feature further
into this magazine.
Richard Hudson

Holy Week & Easter Services
All our Holy Week and Easter services will be held using our ‘On-line Zoom
Services’, ‘Telephone Church’ and ‘Praying Together at Home’ materials. All our
services, together with ‘Lent Thoughts’ and other recent worship can be found
on our website www.barrowandwoldsgroup.com and on our Facebook, Twitter
and YouTube pages. If you would like joining details for our on-line services or
for Telephone Church please contact the church office on
enquiries@barrowandwoldsgroup.com

                        Sunday 28th March – Palm Sunday
10.30am Service on Zoom
4.00pm Telephone Church
As we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy week. Please
remember to have your Palm Cross from the lent packs ready to hand.
                     Holy Week – Praying Together at Home
Our Holy Week devotionals from your lent pack will be recorded and shared on
our website each day of Holy Week and on our Social Media Platforms.
                      Thursday 1st April – Maundy Thursday
7.30pm Service on Zoom
A traditional Eucharist service for Maundy Thursday, remembering Jesus
washing the disciples’ feet and sharing Bread and Wine in the Upper Room
                           Friday 2nd April – Good Friday
7.30pm Service on Zoom
A quiet service of readings, reflections and music as we wait at the foot of the
cross.
                           Sunday 4th April – Easter Day
10.30am Service on Zoom
4.00pm Telephone Church
Our joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, bringing salvation for
all humanity. Please remember to have the Candle from your lent packs ready to
hand, along with something to light it with.

We wish you a Happy and Holy Easter.

Pastoral Letter
“All will be well; all will be well” is a famous saying of Julian of Norwich.
Her world was being devastated by the plague and today we are
experiencing Covid19.
Julian was an Anchorite and chose to have what was then termed a
living death. She chose to be physically walled in to a small cell
attached to the sanctuary of her church, there to live for God but dead
to the temptations of life and the world. In prayer and silence Julian
found God’s goodness, even in the midst of great suffering she saw
that God was in all things, and he loves all things.
Julian, through her visions and writings saw that the soul and the
church are the same, and we find them within, in the secret places of
our own souls. In difficult times though God can seem very distant and
prayer leaves us feeling spiritually dry.
Julian’s advice to those was firstly, not to give up: when we least feel
like praying is when we most need to.
Secondly, she tells us, we must recognize that it is the Holy Spirit who
prays in us and not we ourselves.
But she also gives us an important hint about living and praying: We do
not use to the full the means God has already given us to explore and
enjoy all that there is. She encourages us to use all our senses: touch,
smell, hearing, taste and sight.
How often have we walked out without even noticing the birds singing
or the scent of the shrubs around us? Eaten a meal without really
tasting it?
Our inner world operates at half-throttle too. Often, we rely on
reasoning, speech and sight and neglect our emotions and dreams.
Julian wrote, “When the soul is stormy, troubled and left restlessly to
itself, then it is time to pray to make it supple and compliant to God.”

Often, we fail to listen to or reflect upon what we experience and
encounter day by day. Julian wrote “God loves us and enjoys us, and so
he wills that we love him and enjoy him, and firmly trust him, and all
will be well.”
Pam Knowles
Reader Minister
                       _________________________

Dear Members

Hopefully we are coming to the end of a very difficult period.
We have tried to keep you all up to date and you will have your latest copy of MUspaper
and your Mothering Sunday book mark.
Fingers crossed we may be back together in the autumn.
Keep remembering our members who are frail and cannot get out and about and let us
know if we can help.
Thank you all from me for all your cards as I recover from breaking my right hip. I have
lots of metal in it now.

Annette Hall 413331 Dorcas 416929

FROM THE REGISTERS

IN MEMORIAM:

Our sympathy is extended to the families of those who have died:KEITH
DOUGLAS FRAMPTON

Kathleen Herbert 1932-2021 (a message received from Paula White)
I have heard from the family of Kathleen Herbert (Rev Herbert’s wife) that she
passed away in Norfolk on Saturday 20th February.
Rev. Herbert was Vicar at Holy Trinity in the 80’s and died in 2007.
Kathleen was very active in Mother’s Union.

The Bells – many thanks!
I’m sure that you will remember from the March issue that Holy Trinity is facing
a £2000 bill for necessary maintenance of the clappers for our wonderful peal of
bells. As I wrote then, getting the work done while there are no services in
church is ideal apart from the fact that our income has fallen considerably over
the past year. I have heard from our treasurer the great news that as a result of
the appeal in the magazine over half of the money has been donated. A big
thank you is due to those who have helped in this way. Martin Roberts (620122)
would be delighted to hear from anyone else who is prepared to add to the
already magnificent total.
                           ____________________
Appeal remains open for Project 5000

   Thank you to all who so generously contributed to last
month’s appeal for cartons of UHT milk for this Loughborough-
based charity which once a week serves a hot meal and
distributes food parcels to 20-25 homeless and needy people
from our area. So far we have been able to deliver a whopping
80-plus litre cartons - nearly enough for one a week for each
recipient.
   Project 5000 has continued to operate in Loughborough throughout the
pandemic.
   The organiser Chris York says the item most needed remains UHT milk. If you
are able to add some cartons to your supermarket delivery or weekly shop,
please let me know and I shall be happy to collect and deliver them in an
appropriately socially-distanced way. Thanks in advance for any donations.
Beverley Lott, Tel. 01509 412876

Thanks – Mary Thompson and family would like to thank all members of the
church who have supported them by their prayers and offers of help following
Kevon’s death.

How long is Easter?
I wonder if I asked you how long Easter lasts, what would you say? I
suspect many of you would say four days, from Good Friday to the
bank holiday Monday because we have all become used to this extra-
long weekend away from work. But what if I told you that Easter lasts
for fifty days, and that two of those weekend days aren’t even a part of
Easter?
Easter is the greatest festival of the Church year, the celebration of
Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the tomb after the dramatic and brutal
events of his betrayal, arrest, trial, torture and eventual execution on a
cross. Those events are remembered and marked during Holy Week,
from Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday, particularly remembering his
death on Good Friday. But on Easter Day we turn our sorrow to joy as
we celebrate his resurrection. For Christians, Jesus’ resurrection from
the dead is the event that brings about our salvation, our forgiveness
from our sins or wrong-doings, our redemption and the restoration of
our relationship with God, who loves us, cares for us and wants only
good things for us. It is through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
that we share in the promise of eternal life for those who believe and
trust in him.
The Great Fifty Days of Eastertide, or “Quinquagesima Paschalis”
begins on Easter Sunday and runs until Pentecost and form a single
festival period in which the tone of joy created at the Easter Vigil is
sustained through the following seven weeks, and the Church
celebrates the gloriously risen Christ. The Pascal or Easter Candle is first
lit on Easter Day as a sign of the light of new life found in our
celebration of the resurrection and burns throughout this period. It
symbolises light coming out of the darkness, recalling the words about
Jesus at the start of John’s Gospel “in him was life, and the life was the

light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) We celebrate this new life, light and
hope of Easter with many other symbols that remind us of the joy of
new life, eggs, chicks, spring flowers, even the Easter bunny.
During this Easter period, the Alleluia appears frequently in our
worship and songs; from the Easter acclamation “Alleluia, he is risen,
he is risen indeed, Alleluia” to hymns such as “Alleluia, Alleluia, give
thanks to the Risen Lord.” Morning Prayer begins with the traditional
collection of texts from St Paul, known as the Easter Anthems, and
white or gold vestments, decorations and flowers all emphasize the joy
and brightness of the season. The early church father, Tertullian calls
this “laetissimum spatium” which simply means “the most joyful
period.”
Jesus appeared many times after his resurrection, first to Mary
Magdalene at the tomb then to his disciples, and then to many
different groups of his followers, even a crowd of over four thousand
and we remember these resurrection appearances during this time. On
the fortieth day of the Easter season, we celebrate the Ascension, the
day we remember Jesus ascending into heaven after his many
resurrection appearances. On that day we particularly celebrate his
commissioning of his disciples to continue his work; he promises the
gift of the Holy Spirit, and then he is no longer among them in the
flesh. The ascension is therefore closely connected with the theme of
mission, and over the following nine days, we join with the worldwide
Church in prayer for “Thy Kingdom Come”, praying for the spread of
the Gospel message among our friends and communities. The Easter
season ends with the great Feast of Pentecost (Whit Sunday) when we
remember the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, appearing
as tongues of fire as they witnessed to the resurrection in many

different languages from all over the world. We celebrate the gift of
the Holy Spirit at work in his Church today and always with us in our
daily lives. The day of Pentecost completes and crowns the Easter
Festival.
So how long is Easter? Well, we celebrate for fifty days, from Sunday
4th of April this year to Pentecost on Sunday 23rd May. But Easter is
always with us every day as we remember and celebrate the good
news of how Jesus’ death and resurrection brings us new life and joy in
him, the gift of God’s grace bringing us salvation and eternal life, and
the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives and in our world.
Alleluia! He is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Happy Easter
Rev’d Clive

      ‘The Morning of the Resurrection’ by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1886
    The risen Jesus greets Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John chapter 20 verses 11-17)

From the East Akeley Deanery Magazine
                          100 YEARS AGO
                              April 1921

The Easter Vestry Meeting was held in the Church Room on Tuesday
March 29th. The Vicar referred to the work of the past year which in
many ways was encouraging and he thanked the Churchwardens and
all the church workers for their help and sympathy, and expressed his
gratitude for the kind and generous Easter Offering which had been
presented to him.

Parochial Church Meeting – the second annual meeting was held at
the Church Room on Wednesday April 6th, when about 80 electors
were present. Mr. S.F. Montagu Stone and Mr. C. Stuart Thomson were
re-elected as Representatives on the Ruri-decanal Council and ten
members were elected to the Parochial Church Council.
The Vicar referred to the Missionary Exhibition to be held in the Fearon
Hall, Loughborough, from June 29th to July 6th, and asked for offers of
help as stewards, or workers in any other way.

The Parish War Memorial – At a meeting of the Committee and
Representatives of the various religious denominations and ex-service
men held on Friday April 22nd, it was decided to hold the ceremony of
the unveiling and dedication of the Memorial Cross on Trinity Sunday,
May 22nd at 3pm. Earl Beatty has been approached with a view to his
performing the unveiling. The Barrow on Soar Silver Prize Band have
kindly offered their services for the occasion. Forms of Service will be
circulated later on to all parishioners.
(Sadly, Earl Beatty did not visit Barrow to perform the unveiling duties.
During the World War he had commanded a squadron of battleships at
the Battle of Jutland and received the surrender of the German fleet at
the end of the War. By 1921 he had become First Sea Lord – Editor)
Richard Hudson

RAISE A RIBBON FOR HER
What a success ‘Raise a Ribbon for Her’ turned out to be. Although there had
been a short trial of just a few ribbons which at least proved that they would fly
we really had no idea what an enthusiastic response we would receive from
everyone who saw the full-scale version which was installed on March 13th in
preparation for the following day, Mothering Sunday, and which flew for the
whole of the following week. There had been fears that the wind would be too
strong in the early days but fears turned to triumph as the ribbons were seen at
their best as they stretched out horizontally, flapping wildly.

The event had been widely advertised on social media and local websites and
very soon the positive comments flooded in. And of course it wasn’t just the
sight of the ribbons but also the idea of them carrying the names of mothers
and other ladies nominated by so many of you, around 425 names in total. One
comment in particular seemed to sum things up perfectly. Sue Spair wrote ‘I
think this idea of putting the loved ones’ names on to flags is amazing. Not only
do you get great pleasure from knowing that your loved one’s name is up there
flying above the church but these flags have brought such a lot of pleasure to
other residents of the village and visitors too.’

The highpoint of our media exposure came with a significant mention on BBC
East Midlands Today consisting of snippets from the film Jez Bowman had made
of the project and a short interview with Kath Eastwood-Paramore. You can still
see Jez’s film on our website www.barrowandwoldsgroup.com and clicking on
‘Lent and Easter’, then ‘Mothering Sunday’ and finally on our poster image of
the church with flying ribbons which had been generously created for and
donated to us by Alice Smith (www.avmsart.com). The team involved in putting
the project together (Jez, Kath, Pam Hallam and myself, with later support from
Tom Boldrin) thoroughly enjoyed the various things we found ourselves doing.
Special thanks are due to all who submitted names and who made donations
either as cash or online. These totalled a magnificent £1000!

Richard Hudson

Evening view (floodlit)

         In full flight

Alice Smith’s work of art              Preparing to launch

 (www.avmsart.com)          Tom, Jez (hidden by ribbons) - photo by Kath

FROM THE HOLY TRINITY PRAYER DIARY
Please pray for:
April 4th The Ministry Team: Revd Clive Watts Priest in Charge, Revd Fiona
           Cotton Betteridge Associate Priest, Pam Knowles, Rex Shaw and
           Mike Hyde (Reader Ministers), David Spencer (Pastoral Assistant)
           Ron Hetherington (retired Reader)
April 11th The church’s flower arrangers
April 18th Christian Aid: Organiser – Frances Acton
April 25th Parish Council – Chair: Sandie Forrest & all Councillors
            Local Charnwood Councillors: Hilary Fryer & Pauline Ranson

Please also pray for Ben and Katy Ray (our link missionaries), their family and the people
of Tanzania. There has been no newsletter from Ben and Katy since last October when
they reported that there were few signs of Covid in the country. You may have read
recently, however, that the Tanzanian president, John Magufili, has died from what is
widely believed to be the virus. He had consistently down played its effect despite
accusations that thousands of lives were being lost. Despite constant pleas from the
World Health Organisation no figures of Covid infections have been released since last
May. The situation in the country is likely to be serious but no-one really knows or is able
to discuss the problem openly.

WHO’S WHO IN THE CHURCH
Holy Trinity Church, Barrow on Soar
Churchwardens:          Andy Garner, 07841 528148
                        Richard Hudson, 413185, 0777 608 6448
Treasurer:              Martin Roberts, 620122
PCC Secretary:          Lynne Brookes, 1 Beveridge Street, 07860 197183
Verger:                 Pauline Haynes, 41 Sileby Road, 416432
Tower Captain:          Ian Stonehouse, 31 Flint Lane, 412411, 07850 675 014
Sacristan:              Clifton Martin, 17 Beaumont Road, 620981

St. Mary’s Church, Walton-le-Wolds
Lead Minister           Pam Knowles, 412774
Churchwardens:          Jeremy Bowman, 07974 967473
Treasurer:              Martin Roberts, 621022
DCC Secretary: