OPEN DOOR October/November 2020 - For Churches in Tiptree, Tolleshunt Knights, Great Braxted, Messing & - St. Luke's Church, Tolleshunt ...
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OPEN
DOOR
October/November 2020
For Churches in
Tiptree, Tolleshunt
Knights, Great
£1.00
Braxted, Messing &
Inworth 1
Contacts
Team Rector Licensed Lay Ministers
The Revd Anne-Marie Renshaw Harold Toms
01621 815260 Tiptree 01621 818595
amlrenshaw@btinternet.com Harold.toms@talktalk.net
Day off: Monday
Anne Wild
Team Vicar
07837 248134
The Revd Lydia Smith awild2014@gmail.com
01206 738759
revlydiasmith@gmail.com St Luke’s, Tiptree:
Day off: Friday https://www.facebook.com/
Associate Minister
Revd Anne-Marie @RectorTiptree
Revd Christine Gorringe
Revd Lydia Smith @RevLydiaSmith
christine.gorringe@btinternet.com Team account: @ThurWinChurches
Day off: Tuesday
Team Administrator for enquiries for all churches in the group
Christine Hall 819557 (Tues and Thurs & Parish Office answer machine,
10.00am to 12.30pm) Mobile: 07421 078981
(Tues, Wed & Thurs with voicemail, 10.00am to 12.30pm
thurstableteamadmin@btinternet.com
www.thurstablewinstree.org
Deadline for the next edition: December/January 2021
Sunday 1st November.
From this issue we are producing Open Door on a bi-monthly basis
rather than quarterly .
Items for the magazine: can be emailed to thurstableteamadmin@btinternet.com or
delivered to St Luke’s Parish Office or sent to m.borgartz@btinternet.com
2
“Come, ye thankful people, come” – well, this year it is unlikely
that we are going to be able to raise the song of harvest home in
the way that we usually would. Yet we can still give thanks to God
for another year’s harvest and remember those less fortunate
than ourselves.
About three years ago, one of Colchester Borough’s housing
officers, who is a Christian, had a conversation with some
members of Tiptree Community Church about an increasing
problem she was noticing in Tiptree. Local families and individuals were eligible for a
voucher to get an emergency food parcel from the food bank in Colchester, but if they
didn’t have a car they couldn’t get to the food bank. It takes at least two buses and
quite a long walk to get there. Sometimes they couldn’t afford the bus fare, and even if
they could, a family food parcel is made up of 6-8 carrier bags – how do you get that lot
home with a pushchair and a couple of young children as well? In response, Tiptree
Community Church took to collecting food so that they would always have a box ready
to give to a local family in need.
In 2018 our Lent Bible study focused on the Letter of James, which encourages
Christians to put their faith into action. We were talking about wanting to help people
in need, but not always knowing who they were. Someone from the Community
Church spoke about their food boxes and we all agreed that, if all the churches in
Tiptree joined in, we would be able to help more people. Out of that, we invited the
housing officer to meet with the ministers, and Tiptree Churches Food Bank was born.
It began with just one box at the back of St Luke’s, but quickly grew and started to take
over the vestry. We were providing food to just one or two households a month,
referred to us by the housing officer because they couldn’t afford to buy food and pay
their rent. At Christmas that year, St Luke’s School PTFA donated a whole pile of
Christmas treats and we were able to deliver Christmas parcels to vulnerable people
around the village.
Everything changed when we went into lockdown in March 2020. Suddenly, it wasn’t
just church members wanting to donate food, but lots of local people who had seen a
need and also businesses wanting the food they had left over when they closed to go to
good use. The need also soared. In the first three weeks of lockdown we delivered the
same number of food parcels we have given out over the previous six months. The local
community responded to our requests for help. Before long it was just as well we were
not using the church for worship because you could no longer walk into the vestry, it
was so full of food. Everyone’s generosity meant we were always able to provide help
to people in need. We also began to be more widely known in the area.
That prompted Colchester Food Bank to get in touch to ask us if we would like to work
in partnership with them. This had not been possible back in 2018 because we couldn’t
meet the minimum requirements to do with space and number of volunteers, but the
3
rules had changed since to allow small food banks like ours to become part of the
Trussell Trust network. The big advantages of this partnership are that we now have
access to training and resources and we can accept the same food vouchers as other
food banks, so we can take referrals from a much wider group of agencies, including
our local schools and GP surgery. It makes it easier for people to find out about us and
get help when they need it. It also gives us access to more resources to support them in
trying to resolve the problems that have led them to need help from a food bank. It
also means every food parcel we give out is now recorded and is counted in the
statistics that are given to the government, which helps to make them aware of the
true level of food poverty.
During September a whole group of volunteers have been trained so that we will be
able to run weekly drop-in sessions for people to collect food from the food bank as
well as delivering to people in Tiptree whose mobility is limited. This will enable us to
help more families in need. In the longer term, the food bank will be re-locating to the
URC, where there will be more storage space available, but some alterations to their
building need to be made before this can happen.
I’d like to say thank you to every person who has donated to our food bank. Families
and individuals have been so grateful. I have done most of the deliveries since March so
I am the one who sees what a difference this is making to people who didn’t know
where to turn. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells his disciples that anything they have done to
feed the hungry has been done for him. It is a key part of the church’s calling to notice
those who are in need and do something about it. Thank you for what you have done.
May God continue to bless our community in the weeks and months ahead.
Anne-Marie Renshaw
Don’t ‘go it alone’
If you are helping others at this time, remember to still leave space and time for yourself.
Going the extra mile for other people all the time will only ensure one thing; your
collapse. Work in teams. Even the Good Samaritan did not attempt to help the injured
man all on his own; he brought in the innkeeper. By sharing the problem, they solved it!
4
Good News!
On 22nd August, Martin Fletcher, our former Rector got married to Anna Boyce in St
Mary’s Church, Richmond, North Yorkshire where Martin is the current incumbent. Due
to the current restrictions, the service was streamed on You Tube.
The Happy Couple
We love milk, but from where?
Dairy cows have serious competition these days: a third of young people are now opting
for vegan milk instead. Recent data from the global market research firm, Mintel, has
found that 23 per cent of Britons now use plant-based milk. It has become most popular
among the 16 to 24-year-olds.
Many millennials have switched to soya milk because of environmental concerns, but
the Sustainable Food Trust has recently warned that vegan milk could actually be far
more harmful to the environment. They say that grass-fed dairy milk poses less of a
threat to the Amazon and other rainforests than many soya products do.
5
FRAUD ALERTS
It is a sad fact of life that there are people out there who are trying to illegally separate
you from your money by claiming they are from someone like HM Revenue & Customs,
your bank or some other respected organisation. Often these scams, which may be by
email or telephone, will sound very plausible and the perpetrator will be trying to obtain
your bank details and other personal information, either by gentle persuasion or by an
implied threat. Be aware:
Banks will never ask you for your PIN number or ask you to transfer money
into a “safe” account.
If in doubt ring them back, but ensure you look up the number independently.
Do not ring back the number they give you.
Any telephone call that threatens court action is a scam. Stop and think, how
did they get my number?
Likewise emails asking you to confirm your bank details. How do they know
your email address?
Two current scams are below.
Gift Card Scams—Have HMRC really contacted you?
Many of us are aware that criminals regularly make telephone calls claiming to be
HMRC. Increasingly, they are making these calls claiming that there is a warrant out for
the arrest of the recipient and that they are required to pay their ‘outstanding debt’ in
order to avoid arrest. However, they proceed to ask the recipient to pay off this debt
using gift cards, including Amazon and iTunes gift cards.
Due to the fact that gift cards are relatively untraceable, this proves to be a low-risk,
high-reward scam. Recently, four people paid £1,000 each in Peterborough.
What to look out for:
1. You cannot pay bills or outstanding debts using gift cards
2. Fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC will try to panic you by informing you there
is a warrant out for your arrest
3. Once the gift cards have been purchased, scammers will ask you to scratch off the
back of the gift cards and send them the codes underneath—this is particularly
suspicious if they ask them to be sent via platforms such as WhatsApp.
4. If you are unsure, hang up, and call back on a trusted number. Never use a number
supplied by the person on the phone, and use an alternative phone if possible.
Genuine organisations have no issue with you confirming who they are.
6
If you think you have been a victim of this scam or have received similar calls claiming to
be from HMRC, report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at
www.actionfraud.police.uk
Gift Card Scams— Fake Asda email
Over 100 reports have been received of an email circulating claiming to be from
Asda offering a £1,000 gift card for filling in an online form.
These emails are known as phishing and use prizes to entice people to give out
their personal information.
Fake emails from supermarket chains are particularly common and offer a large
shopping voucher in return for completing online forms/surveys. They will often
be accompanied by a number of glowing reviews from customers who allegedly
received a voucher.
The reports of phishing emails have escalated during lockdown, with criminals
increasingly turning to online scams to target those who have been spending
more time at home.
Earlier in the year, Essex Trading Standards released the following statement:
“Please be aware of these scam emails circulating claiming to be from various
supermarkets.
The scammers cloak the email in the branding of a popular supermarket chain
and inform the recipient that they have received a money off voucher to assist
with purchases during the quarantine.
The email then directs the recipient to click a link so that they may claim the
coupon. Rather than being a kind offer from some of Britain’s most popular
chains, it is a fraudulent email which aims to steal the credit card details of the
recipient.
Look out for the telltale signs that the voucher offer is a scam, such as poor
spelling and grammar; however, this is not always the case, and many look
identical to official supermarket emails.
Never click the links or input your card details.
If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
If you think you have received a phishing email, forward it on to the Suspicious
Email Reporting Service (SERS) at
report@phishing.gov.uk
7
Revised APCM dates
Great Braxted Sunday 11 October after the 11.15am service
Messing Thursday 15 October at 7.30pm
Inworth Sunday 18 October after the 11.15am service
Tiptree Sunday 18 October after the 3.00pm afternoon service
Harvest Festival Dates
Great Braxted Sunday 4 October
Inworth Sunday 4 October
Messing Sunday 11 October
Tiptree Sunday 11 October
8
St Andrew - 30th November
The apostle Andrew is patron saint of Scotland. According to the gospel of Matthew,
Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were the very first two disciples whom Jesus called.
'Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' (Matt 4:18,19)
Without more ado, they obeyed. 'At once they left their nets and followed him.' The
story is touching for the simple but total faith that they had in Jesus.
Whenever the gospels mention the disciples, Andrew’s name is always in the first four.
Rather than a boisterous leader of men (like Peter), he seems to have been an
approachable person who wanted to help people.
It was Andrew who helped introduce a group of Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-2) and
Andrew who offered Jesus the five small barley loaves and two small fishes when Jesus
challenged them to feed the five thousand. (John 6:8) His faith in Jesus over small things
was richly rewarded, and this faithful, kindly Galilean fisherman turned disciple went on
to become one of the 12 apostles of the Christian Church.
Andrew never settled back in Capernaum by Galilee. Instead, his ‘fishing for men’ seems
to have taken him far. One ancient tradition links him with Greece, where both Scythia
and Epirus claimed him as their apostle. Another place in Greece, Patras in Achaia,
claimed to be the place where Andrew was eventually martyred.
Like Jesus, he was crucified, but the story goes that during the two days it took him to
die, he preached earnestly to the people about Jesus. Andrew was not afraid of death on
a cross – he had seen it before, and knew one thing for certain: because of Jesus, there
was nothing but eternal life ahead of him.
In the West, Andrew’s feast-day was universal from the 6th century, and hundreds of
churches were named after him in Italy, France and England. But how did he end up as
patron saint of Scotland?
Well, according to one ancient legend, his relics were taken from Patras to Scotland in the
8th century, and ended up in Fife, where a church dedicated to him was built and became
a centre for evangelisation and later pilgrimage. As Andrew was the only apostle to make
it as far as Scotland, he was chosen as patron saint.
But Andrew did not stay in Scotland. After the fall of Constantinople in 1204, it is said
that the Crusaders took his relics to Amalfi. From there the despot Thomas Palaeologus
sent his head to the pope in Rome in 1461 – where it became one of the most treasured
possessions of St Peters - until it was sent to the church in Constantinople by Paul VI.
In art Andrew is depicted with a normal Latin cross in the most ancient examples. The
saltire cross ‘X’, commonly called St Andrew’s Cross, and which represents Scotland on
the Union Jack, was associated with him from the 10th century.
9
Church of England and RSCM await next steps
following study into singing safety
The Church of England and Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) have been awaiting
updated guidance on singing in places of worship after findings of a Government-
backed study were published.
The research project, known as ‘PERFORM’, recently published its findings on
measuring aerosol production from humans. It measured singing, speaking and
breathing in a zero-background environment.
Researchers reported a steep rise in aerosol mass with increase in the loudness of the
singing and speaking, rising by as much as a factor of 20-30. However, it was also
found that singing does not produce substantially more aerosol than speaking at a
similar volume.
The RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris said: “We welcome this news. Singing is of such
importance in worship, and this is a really encouraging step towards its safe
resumption.
“It is of course vital that all choirs and singing groups follow the relevant government
advice, and so we look forward to receiving the latest guidance in this important
area.” The Church of England and RSCM both regularly update their advice following
the publication of Government guidance.
Average debt fell by £2,000 during lockdown
Covid-19 has brought one good thing to some of us: the average amount of personal
debt has reduced by nearly £2,000, according to a recent study by Experian. It recently
stood at £9,681 (without mortgage), as opposed to £11,615 (without mortgage) in
March.
As a spokesman for the credit-checking agency explained: “For some people, a
reduction in spending on living costs and commuting have enabled the repayment of
existing borrowing.” And he urged that as the UK returns to something like normal,
people should try and continue with the good financial habits picked up during
lockdown.
But Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizen’s Advice, said that while some people
have been able to pay off some of their debts in the pandemic, many others have not.
Instead, they “are behind on essential bills, building up arrears they may struggle to
ever pay back.”
10Has lockdown damaged your eyesight?
Are you suffering from ‘coronavision’? It is perfectly possible.
Lockdown led to many of us staring at our television or computer screens for long
periods of time. And that could have strained our eyes, warns the College of
Optometrists.
By this summer one in five adults in Britain had reported a deterioration in their
eyesight. Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty in focussing, and red or painful
eyes.
As one optometrist explained: “Working from home, video calls with friends and family,
watching more TV, time spent looking at your phone – all that screen time adds up.
The good news is that this is unlikely to cause any permanent harm to your vision.”
Nevertheless, the College urges people to get their eyes checked if they feel on-going
discomfort. They also advise that when you are looking at a screen, you rest your eyes
every 20 minutes, blink regularly, use eye drops, position your screen below eye level
and increase the size of the text.
Music and memory
Have you ever heard a certain song or tune that immediately takes you back to your
youth? It can be a very poignant moment.
When researchers at the University of Westminster examined the choices of 80 different
guests on the BBC radio show Desert Island Discs, they found that most guests had
chosen music which dated back to when they had been between 10 to 30 years old. This
time span was identified as a ‘self-defining period’ in their lives.
The research concluded: “The music we know and love between the ages of 10 to 30 will
play a significant role throughout our lives, connecting us as individuals to other people,
places and times that become central to our identity.”
What songs trigger the big memories for you?
If you would like to share the music that takes you back to your youth and the reason
why, let me know and we can include it in future editions of Open Door.
Editor
11The story behind … ABIDE WITH ME
One of the most famous hymns in the world came out of Brixham, near Torbay, Devon,
in 1847.
In those days it was a poor, obscure fishing village, and the vicar was the Rev Henry
Francis Lyte. It was a discouraging place to be a pastor, but Henry felt that God wanted
him there, and so he stayed, though it was lonely work, and he suffered constant ill
health.
By the time he was 54, Henry had contracted tuberculosis and asthma, and he and his
family knew he was dying. It would have been so easy for him to look back on his life
and feel a complete failure. What had he ever accomplished? And yet – and yet –
Henry knew that in life it is not worldly success that matters, but how much we respond
to Jesus Christ, and how much we follow Him.
In September of 1847 Henry was preparing to travel to the south of France, as was the
custom for people with tuberculosis at that time. One day before he left, he read the
story in the gospel of Luke about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were
met by Jesus on the day of His resurrection, and they invited Him to stay with them
because it was getting late. “Abide with us”, they said “for it is towards evening.”
“Abide with us - for it is toward evening.” These words struck a chord with Henry, who
knew that it was getting ‘towards evening’ in his life. So, he sat down and wrote this
hymn as a prayer to God – (the following are just some of the verses)
Abide with me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
12I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Shortly after Henry wrote that hymn, he preached his last sermon. He was so ill he
practically crawled into the pulpit to do so. A few weeks later, in Nice, France, he died,
and so of course he never knew that his hymn would go on to become greatly loved the
world over.
1331 October - All Hallows Eve
Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots with the Celtic peoples of pre-Christian
times.
In those long-ago days, on the last night of October, the Celts celebrated the Festival of
Samhain, or ‘Summer’s End’. The priests, or Druids, performed ceremonies to thank and
honour the sun. For there was a very dark side to all this: Samhain also signalled the
onset of winter, a time when it was feared that unfriendly ghosts, nature-spirits, and
witches roamed the earth, creating mischief. So the Druid priests lit great bonfires and
performed magic rites to ward off or appease these dark supernatural powers.
Then the Romans arrived, and brought their Harvest Festival which honoured the
Goddess Pomona with gifts of apples and nuts. The two festivals slowly merged.
When Christianity arrived still later, it began to replace the Roman and Druid religions.
1st November - All Saints’ Day - was dedicated to all Christian Martyrs and Saints who had
died. It was called ‘All Hallows’ Day’. The evening before became an evening of prayer
and preparation and was called ‘All Hallows’ Eve’, The Holy Evening, later shortened to
‘Halloween’.
For many centuries, however, fear of the supernatural remained strong. During the
Middle Ages, animal costumes and frightening masks were worn to ward off the evil
spirits of darkness on Halloween. Magic words and charms were used to keep away bad
luck, and everybody believed that witches rode about on broomsticks. Fortune telling
was popular, and predicting the future by the use of nuts and apples was so popular that
Halloween is still sometimes known as Nutcrack Night or Snap-Apple Night.
Today, Christians have learned to turn to prayer instead of charms to overcome the
powers of darkness. And the deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, should not be
forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to Christ when we remember and give thanks
for our loved ones and for others who have gone before us through the gates of death.
14Understanding the Bible
Canon Paul Hardingham considers the authority of the Bible.
As we acknowledge Bible Sunday this month, it’s a good opportunity to ask the question:
why should I read the Bible?
The Bible is the world’s best-selling book of all time. However, it isn’t one book, but a
library of 66 books, composed by some 44 writers over a period of 1500 years in a range
of literature including history, poetry, prophecy, letters and apocalyptic (end times).
Despite having a number of different writers, the Bible claims one author: God himself!
This is the basis of the unity of its message and authoritative claim to be the primary way
by which God speaks to us: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is inspired (‘the
word of God in the words of men’) and presents itself as a manual for life, equipping us
to live for God in every aspect of our lives. We also have the promise of the Holy Spirit to
guide us in applying the words to our lives: ‘the Spirit will guide you into all truth’ (John
16:13).
However, the Bible could also be described as a love letter from God, as He uses it to
deepen our relationship with him. As Jesus said: ‘You diligently study the Scriptures
because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that
testify about me’ (John 5:39,40). Christians follow a person not a book, and the
Scriptures are intended to help us to know Jesus better.
At her coronation the Queen was given a Bible with the words ‘the most precious thing
this world affords’. Does this reflect our own attitude to the Bible?
15The Revd Michael Burgess continues his series on animals and birds as seen in art and
scripture… this month he considers ‘St Francis of Assisi preaching to the fish’ by Luc-
Olivier Merson.
He gave us eyes to see them:
‘St Francis of Assisi preaching to the fish’
On 4th October we give thanks for one of the most loved saints in the church - Francis of
Assisi. He died in 1226, but his example and witness have lived on to inspire Christians
through the centuries.
His was a life focused on the crib and the cross, Lady Poverty and the stigmata, suffering
and transfiguration. But also, it was a life marked by a deep love of creation: St Francis
had a special nearness to all creatures great and small. As we read the stories of Thomas
of Celano, we learn how he tamed a wolf in Gubbio, how swallows would chirp and fly
around his head, how lambs would come close and gaze with delight, how his faithful
donkey wept as the saint approached death, and in this month’s painting, how fish
would come to the shore to hear him preach.
Thomas relates how Francis returned some fish that had been caught to the water,
telling them not to be caught again. They lingered near the boat, listening to the saint
until he gave them permission to leave.
The sermon to the fish is portrayed in this work by Luc-Olivier Merson, a French artist
who lived from 1846 to 1920. He is better known for his work with designs for
banknotes, postage stamps, and the basilica of Sacré - Coeur in Montmartre. Here in this
16canvas, we see St Francis with followers young and old, a faithful dog and the fish at the
water’s edge.
What was the saint telling them? I think that they were loved and valued as part of the
rich tapestry of God’s creation, and they must return that love. It is the mood of the
Benedicite where all things that move in the earth, the skies and the seas are exhorted to
praise the Lord and magnify him forever. St Francis captures that mood in his own
Canticle of the Sun.
In the weeks and months of lockdown many of us have had the time to look afresh at our
relationship with the world of nature as we have journeyed through the seasons of
spring and summer. We have learnt to wonder at the richness and variety of creation. We
need to take that lesson into the ‘new normal' as restrictions are gradually relaxed. The
clock and the complexity of life may easily take over again, but St Francis is inviting us to
journey with him in simplicity and joy as we praise God with all His creatures:
‘Let all things their Creator bless
and worship Him in humbleness.’
Churches enjoy Zooming
Most churches who used digital channels during lockdown, in order to keep in touch
with their congregations, found that their favourite platform was Zoom.
A recent survey by Ecclesiastical found that Zoom was used by 78 per cent; Skype by 12
per cent, and other platforms, including WhatsApp, by eight per cent.
Nearly one third of churches who used digital channels have also reported an increased
attendance at their virtual services.
That has led to some 38 per cent of churches saying that they would continue to use
digital channels, even now that churches are physically open again.
17From the registers
Baptisms Funerals
St Luke, Tiptree All Saints, Inworth
6th September Elliott Wiggins 2nd September Irene Saunders
All Saints, Great Braxted
24th August Toni Curson
At the Crematorium
3rd August Benjamin Marshall
25th August Alma Smith
18th September Kenneth Wade
18October 13
Edward the Confessor
helping to found Westminster Abbey
If you approve of giving money to help cathedrals survive, then Edward the Confessor
(1003 – 66) is the saint for you. This early King of England was the virtual founder of
Westminster Abbey. And never mind entrance charges - at one point in his life, Edward
was giving a full tenth of his income to Westminster Abbey.
Edward was the son of King Ethelred the Unready and his second, Norman wife, Emma.
After various ups and downs which included a brief exile in Normandy, Edward was made
King of England in 1042.
As King, Edward had a tricky time of it – trying to keep the peace for over 20 years while
various Danish and Norman magnates struggled for power (which eventually led to the
Norman Conquest). Scholars have argued over how much of a success he was as a king.
As a Christian, there is no doubt: Edward’s holiness was evident to all. He made himself
accessible to his people, he was generous to the poor, and chaste. He was also reputed
to have seen visions and even achieved miraculous cures for people through prayer.
Edward did much to help the Church in many ways. His lasting contribution was the
original Westminster Abbey - a huge Romanesque church, 300 feet long, with a nave of
12 bays. Westminster Abbey became the place of coronation and burial of kings and
queens of England. It was finished and consecrated just before his death. Edward was
buried there, and his relics are undisturbed to this day.
During the Middle Ages, Edward was a very popular saint: along with Edmund of East
Anglia he was widely considered to be England’s patron saint for a time.
19October 18 - St Luke the Evangelist
linking the sacred and the profane
To St Luke, a Gentile, we owe the
beautifully written Gospel of Luke,
and the Book of Acts. He was a Greek
physician, a disciple of St Paul, a
companion on some of his missionary
journeys, and an inspired writer.
Luke’s gospel focuses on the
compassion of Christ. His gospel
contains some of the most moving
parables, such as the Good Samaritan
and Prodigal Son. This, with his
emphasis on poverty, prayer and
purity of heart, make up much of his
appeal to the Gentles, for whom he
wrote.
Women figure more prominently in
Luke’s gospel than any other: look out
for the extended story of the Virgin
Birth, and stories of Mary, Elizabeth,
and the woman who was a sinner.
In Acts, Luke is remarkably good at
linking sacred and profane history, as
subsequent archaeology has shown. A
principal theme of his Acts is how the
early Christians moved away from
Jerusalem into the pagan world, and
especially on to Rome.
Luke is the patron saint of doctors,
surgeons and artists (due to his
picturesque style of writing). His
symbol is an ox, sometimes explained
by reference to the sacrifice in the
Temple at the beginning of his Gospel.
In England 28 ancient churches were dedicated to him.
20Great Braxted
Toni Curson
It is with great sadness that we must report that our sister in Christ, Toni
Curson also one of our Churchwardens and a Wedding Verger passed away on
4th August with cancer. She was only 58 years old. Her funeral was held at All
Saint’s on 24th August. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Peter
and her four children and the rest of the family and friends. May she rest in
peace.
Ken Hornett
21Thank You
Charles Collar and Sheila Gunson would like to
thank whoever put a lovely basket of plants on
Peggy Collar’s grave a few months ago. Sheila
collected the basket so the grave area could be
tidied up and realised that the rose bush in it was
very much alive, despite not having much water for
a while. Now it has had some water the plant is
budding up nicely and should open some lovely
blooms very soon. In the autumn the bush will be
put into the garden where we hope it will thrive for
a good few years. Thank You to that lovely kind
person it has, and will, give us a lot of pleasure.
Charles Collar & Sheila Gunson.
Two working Clocks Charlie has made during lock down.
22Thank You
From Jackie Hatton, East of England Coop,
Tiptree Branch Funeral Co-ordinator,
“I have received the hearts, thank you so
much. They are made with such love and care
and as such they will be received with much love
at Ipswich hospital where my daughter works.”
The hearts on the right were made by Christine
Hall’s Mother in Law, but other church members
also contributed.
Bring back hedgerows
We need our hedgerows back – urgently. They are part of ‘nature’s toolbox’ to help us
reduce our carbon emissions.
That was the recent message from the CPRE countryside charity which points out that
there were twice as many hedges in England before the Second World War. Since then
thousands of kilometres of hedges have been ripped up to make way for new housing
and motorways, and to merge and enlarge fields.
The 2007 UK Countryside Survey found that there were 600,000 kilometres of managed
and unmanaged hedgerows in the UK, with the vast majority of them in England.
This was a significant decline on the same survey from 1984, when there were about
680,000 kilometres of hedges across Great Britain. That is a reduction of 80,000
kilometres, or 50,000 miles. To put that another way, we have ripped out about 57,000
times the entire length of Britain (874 miles).
No wonder, then, that the CPRE’s report, Greener, better, faster: countryside solutions to
the climate emergency and for a green recovery, calls for millions of pounds to be spent
on new hedges. It says: “By planting more trees and hedgerow, restoring peatlands and
moving toward a more sustainable way of farming, we can use nature’s toolbox to
capture greenhouse gases from the air, while revitalising our natural environment.”
23What’s in the Bible (for me)?
50 readings and reflections
By Lucy Moore, BRF, £4.99
Lucy Moore’s pocket-sized guide to the Bible takes readers on an epic journey through
4,000 years of history. Spanning Old and New Testaments from Genesis to Revelation in
50 bite-sized readings, the founder and leader of Messy Church writes for families and
individuals who are new to the Bible: its riches, puzzles and complexities.
Taking a single theme, she explores ‘the big journey’ of God’s people in order to help the
reader to better understand their own journey. She explains the different kinds of writing
within the Bible and the different perspectives of the writers.
For anyone who wonders where to start reading the Bible, this is the perfect
introduction and companion. It will, writes Lucy, ‘fit in your bag or pocket, so it can go
with you to the place where you have time to read it – on the bus or train, in the cafe or
playground or on your lunch break. Scribble on it; wave it at your local minister or
Christian friend and make them answer your questions or listen to your theories. Safe
travels!’
2425
All in the month of October
100 years ago, on 7th Oct 1920 that Oxford University allowed women to become full
members and study for full degrees for the first time, and the first 100 women were
admitted.
***
th
30 years ago, on 8 Oct 1990 that East and West Germany reunited as the Federal
Republic of Germany.
***
th
80 years ago, on 9 Oct 1940 that during the Blitz, a German bomb destroyed the high
altar of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Later that same month on 31st Oct, the Battle of
Britain ended.
***
175 years ago, on 12th Oct 1845 that Elizabeth Fry, died. This prison reformer and
philanthropist was depicted on the British £5 note between 2001 and 2016.
***
On 14th October 1066 - The Norman Conquest began with the Battle of Hastings in
which King Harold II of England, the last of the Saxon kings, was defeated and killed by
William of Normandy's troops.
***
st
500 years ago, on 21 Oct 1520 that Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s Spanish
expedition to the East Indies discovered the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of
Chile.
***
215 years ago, on 21st October 1805 the Battle of Trafalgar took place between the
British Royal Navy and the combined French and Spanish fleets. The victorious British
ended the threat of Napoleon's invasion of England. British naval hero Admiral Horatio
Nelson was mortally wounded aboard his ship Victory.
***
nd
90 years ago, on 22 Oct 1930 that the BBC Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert.
All in the month of November
On the 3rd November 1534 - King Henry VIII became Supreme Head of the Church of
England following the passage of the Act of Supremacy by Parliament.
***
On the 4th November 4 1890 - The first electrified underground railway system was
officially opened in London.
***
26On the 4th November 1942 - During World War II, British troops led by Bernard
Montgomery defeated the Germans under Erwin Rommel at El Alamein after a twelve-
day battle.
***
On the 5th November 5th 1605 Guy Fawkes failed in the "Gunpowder Plot" to blow up
the Houses of Parliament and King James I in 1605.
***
On the 11th November 1992 - The Church of England voted to allow women to become
priests.
***
On 15th November 1980 - Pope John Paul II visited West Germany, the first papal visit to
Germany in 200 years.
***
On 20th November 1945 - The Nuremberg War Crime Trials began in which 24 former
leaders of Nazi Germany were charged with conspiracy to wage wars of aggression,
crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
***
On 21st November 1695 - Henry Purcell, English composer and organist died.
***
On 30th November 1936 One of London’s best-loved landmarks, the Crystal Palace
burned down. The huge glass building originally housed the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Tiptree Choral Society
It is looking as though 2020 will be the first year since 1945 that Tiptree Choral Society
will not put on a concert for the people of Tiptree and the surrounding area. We are
very disappointed to have had to cancel our November concert. ‘War Story’, a new
piece, was not only to be a celebration of our 75th anniversary as a Society but was also
to serve as an act of remembrance, especially as this year marks 80 years since the Blitz
in London and the destruction of Coventry in 1940. We look forward to safer times and
hope that we will be able to bring you this work on a different occasion.
In the meantime, we continue to share an interest in all things musical and in singing in
particular, even if, at the moment, it is only in the bath! In the absence of rehearsals, our
regular newsletters will be starting again soon!
2728
Noah and the Ark – 2020 version
In the year 2020, Noah was living in England when the Lord came unto him
and said, "Once again, the earth has become too wicked to continue. Build
another Ark and save two of every living thing. You have six months before I
will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his garden,
but no Ark. "Noah", He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the
Ark?"
"Forgive me Lord", begged Noah "but things have been difficult. I needed
Building Regulations approval because the Ark was over 30 square metres.
I've been arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a sprinkler
system. My neighbours claim that I should have obtained planning permission
for building the Ark in my garden because it is a development of the site even
though in my opinion it is a temporary structure, but the roof is too high.
“The Local Area Access Group complained that my ramp was going to be too
steep and the inside of the Ark wasn't fully accessible. Getting the wood has
been another problem. All the decent trees have Tree Preservation Orders on
them and we live in a Site of Special Scientific Interest set up in order to
preserve the Spotted Owl. I tried to convince them that I needed the wood to
save the owls - but no go!
“When I started gathering the animals the RSPCA sued me for intending to
confine wild animals without the proper paperwork. The County Council, the
Environment Agency and the Rivers Authority have ruled that I can’t build the
Ark until they've conducted an Environmental Impact Study on your proposed
flood. The Trade Unions insist that I can't use my sons to build the Ark; I can
only employ members of the Shipbuilding and Allied Trades union. Finally,
Customs and Excise have seized all my assets, claiming I am going to attempt
to leave the country illegally with endangered species.
“So, forgive me Lord, but it will take me at least another ten years to finish
this Ark."
Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched
across the sky. “No need for me to destroy the world after all,” observed God.
"The government has the matter already in hand.”
29Our page 30
31
Wordsearch
All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening
Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots in pre-Christian times. In those long-ago
days, on the last night of October, the Druid priests celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or
‘Summer’s End’. They lit great bonfires and performed magic rites to ward off the dark
supernatural powers of oncoming winter. Today, Christians turn to prayer instead of charms
to overcome the powers of darkness. And the deeper, true meaning of All Hallows’ Eve,
should not be forgotten. As Christians, we all draw closer to Christ when we remember and
give thanks for our loved ones and for others who have gone before us through the gates of
death.
All Festival Supernatural Charms Christ
Hallows Samhain Powers Deeper Thanks
Halloween Bonfires Winter True Loved
Druid Magic Christians Eve Death
Priests Dark Prayer Closer Gone
32Beware what lurks in the church vestry...
The Rectory
St James the Least of All
My dear Nephew Darren
I am unsurprised that the cleaning lady took exception to you
dismantling your motorbike in the church vestry. Clergy
vestries are the final repositories of rotting hymn books, ancient cassocks with a certain
aroma, buckets with holes in, which are kept “just in case” and dead animals in various
states of decomposition; but they are no place for bike chains, disc brakes and inner
tubes.
I will concede that vestries seem to attract all those objects no one quite knows what to
do with, but which parishioners can’t bear to throw away. Flower arrangers creep into
my vestry, looking for space for boxes of twine. Decorators arrive with cribs and Easter
gardens they are hoping to store. And even the choirmaster occasionally sidles in, trying
to slip some anthems past me. I repel them all with vigour, and a firm broom.
One thing I can’t keep out of the vestry are the portraits of all my predecessors, who
stare down at me reproachfully. The most recent, in colour, stare smugly, knowing that I
am still being compared to them, and falling short. Earlier incumbents, in black and
white, look mildly reproachful, reminding me that they all held doctorates from Oxford.
The hand-drawn portraits from pre-1870 are the worst – they all look as if they drank
vinegar for breakfast and argued Pelagianism over lunch, just for fun. I am already
rehearsing my own look of pained forgiveness for my leaving photo that will stare down
on my own successor, and perpetually irritate him
It also seems to be a tradition that retiring clergy donate their robes for their successors,
probably because it spares them a walk to the dustbin. So, a five-foot, 18 stone
incumbent will leave a cassock for his six-foot, ten stone successor. There will also be a
spare 1960s nylon surplice hanging on the back of the vestry door, to remind you that
should you ever forget your own, then this is the horror you will be obliged to wear
throughout Evensong.
Notices on the walls will tell you that marriage fees in the 1920s were seven shillings and
sixpence, that Communion wine can be obtained from a shop that closed down a
generation ago and there will be a copy of the prayer of thanksgiving to be used on the
Relief of Mafeking.
My only advice is to remove your bike before it gets bundled up with the Scouts’ tents –
and lost forever in the churchwarden’s shed.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
33Book the Hall in St Luke’s Church Extension St Lukes hall currently has
for your meeting, group or event space for some more
regular bookings,
Good rates and facilities!
Mondays after 3.30pm
£15 an hour
Wednesdays after 4.15pm
(except 2nd & 3rd Wed)
Fridays after 4pm
Wi-fi available for
Saturdays - some free dates.
group leaders or speakers
(discuss your needs to find out more contact Gareth, the
when booking) Hall Bookings Secretary
Bookings & Enquiries
Phone Gareth Williams: Please email your requirements to
01621 818069 Gareth Williams the Hall Bookings
hall.stlukestiptree@btinternet.com
Secretary for St Luke's at
We have some vacant slots in the diary for 2020 all.stlukestiptree@btinternet.com
so, why not give Gareth a call?
Crossword
34Across
1 He must be ‘the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his
household well’ (1 Timothy 3:12) (6)
4 ‘For we must all — before the judgement seat of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:10) (6)
7 ‘They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their — end’
(Psalm 107:27) (4)
8 See 19 Across
9 It concerned who among the disciples would be the greatest(Luke 9:46) (8)
13 Formed by the Jews in Thessalonica to root out Paul and Silas (Acts 17:5) (3)
16 ‘He has sent me to bind up the — ’ (Isaiah 61:1) (6-7)
17 Moved rapidly on foot (Matthew 28:8) (3)
19 and 8 ‘ — a great company of the — host appeared with the angel’ (Luke 2:13) (8,8)
24 Hindrance (Romans 14:13) (8)
25 Comes between Luke and Acts (4)
26 Empower (Acts 4:29) (6)
27 ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a — !’
(John 2:16) (6)
Down
1 Sunrise (Psalm 119:147) (4)
2 The part of the day when Cornelius the Caesarean centurion had a vision of an
angel of God (Acts 10:3) (9)
3 He was one of those who returned with Zerubbabel from exile in Babylon to
Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:7) (5)
4 ‘No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born — ’(John 3:3) (5)
5 Animal hunted or killed as food (Ezekiel 22:25) (4)
6 ‘He encouraged them — — remain true to the Lord’ (Acts 11:23) (3,2)
10 Ruses (anag.) (5)
11 Jewish priestly vestment (Exodus 28:6) (5)
12 Visible sign of what had been there (Daniel 2:35) (5)
13 This was the trade of Alexander, who did Paul ‘a great deal of harm’
(2 Timothy 4:14) (9)
14 ‘This is my — , which is for you; do this in remembrance of me’
(1 Corinthians 11:24) (4)
15 One of Noah’s great-great-grandsons (Genesis 10:24) (4)
18 Traditionally the first British Christian martyr (5)
20 Relationship of Ner to Saul (1 Samuel 14:50) (5)
21 Jacob had one at a place he named Bethel while on his way to Haran, fleeing from
Esau (Genesis 28:12) (5)
22 Bats (anag.) (4)
23 ‘You strain out a — but swallow a camel’ (Matthew 23:24) (4)
35London ‘more religious than the rest of the
country’ says new report
London is more religious than the rest of the country, according to a new report
published by the think tank Theos.
The report ‘Religious London’, shows that Londoners are significantly more religious than
people living elsewhere in Britain, and the capital’s Christians are far more ethnically
diverse.
The polling, conducted for Theos by Savanta ComRes, shows that: most Londoners are
religious (62 per cent identify as religious compared to 53 per cent across the rest of
Britain outside London)
Religious Londoners were 48 per cent BAME (Black, Asian, minority ethnic) compared
with just 27 per cent of non-religious Londoners.
Christianity in particular was significantly more ethnically diverse in the capital - 31 per
cent of Christians in London are BAME compared with just two per cent across the rest
of Britain outside London.
Theos also identifies further insights around the nature of religious practice, finding
that Londoners are more intensely practising, more likely to pray, and more likely to
attend a religious service than those outside the capital.
One in four Londoners attend a religious service at least once a month compared with 1
in 10 in the rest of Britain outside London.
Religious Londoners are twice as likely as religious people in other parts of the country
to attend a service twice a month or more (31 per cent vs 15 per cent)
56 per cent of London Christians pray regularly compared to 32 per cent of Christians in
the rest of Britain.
Christian Londoners are also more likely to say that they will donate to a charitable
initiative than non-religious Londoners (76 per cent vs. 68 per cent); that they would
help their neighbours with a simple task than non-religious Londoners (92 per cent vs.
86 per cent); and half of Christians (49 per cent) and non-Christian religious adults (53
per cent) say that they are likely to volunteer regularly for a local charitable initiative,
compared to 40 per cent of non-religious Londoners.
The report argues that London's leaders and policy makers should take more account of
religious communities and their significant role in providing social welfare across the
capital.
Theos director Elizabeth Oldfield said: “The great success story of London has been its
36ability to welcome and accommodate opinions from across the political spectrum. The
city still has the capacity to shock us – and this is one of the things which makes London
one of the most dynamic, complex and interesting cities in the world.”
Savanta ComRes, who conducted the polling, interviewed 2,023 British adults aged 18+
online between 17th -20th January 2020 and 1,005 London adults aged 18+ online
between 17th - 23rd January 2020.
The ‘Religious London’ report is available at: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/
research/2019/02/19/religious-london
37TIPTREE BEER & WINE MAKERS GUILD
(Otherwise known as the TIPTREE TIPPLERS)
New to the village or simply wish to do something different? We started
in 1970 as a wine and beer making guild and although members still
brew their own and compete in our annual competitions, we are now
more of a social club meeting monthly.
You do not have to make your own wine or beer or be knowledgeable
about wine or beer making - the only requirement is to have fun and
meet great people.
We have an event or theme each month sometimes with a guest
speaker. There are always nibbles & cheese provided & sometimes
additional food at a small cost.
We normally meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at St
Luke’s Church Hall, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, when the lockdown is
over and normal events recommence
You are most welcome to come and try out a night for free. Just turn up
and make yourself known to Ben or Ian and bring a drink for yourself.
There are no admission fees now & our yearly membership is just £30.
See the church notice board for our events in 2020.
Come along and ask for Ben or Ian who will
introduce you to some of our members
For more information contact Ian Stevens on
ianstevens8@gmail.com or 01621-819069
38Smile
Are politicians the oldest profession?
A surgeon, an architect and a politician were arguing as to whose profession was the
oldest. Said the surgeon: “Eve was made from Adam’s rib, and that surely was a surgical
operation.”
“Maybe,” admitted the architect, “but prior to that, order was created out of chaos, and
that was an architectural job.”
“But,” the politician pointed out in triumph, “somebody had to have created the chaos in
the first place!”
***
School
Mother to young daughter after first day at school: “Well, dear, what did they teach you
today?”
Daughter: “Not much. I’ve got to go back again tomorrow.”
***
Off to uni...
Smith: So your son is in college? How is he making it?
Jones: He isn’t. I’m making it and he is spending it.
***
Our neighbour’s son is very active in church – he squirms, wriggles and fidgets.
***
Ten Commandments
A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six-
year-olds. After explaining the commandment to ‘honour thy father and thy mother’, she
said: “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”
Without missing a beat, one little boy answered: “Thou shalt not kill.”
***
Telling the time
The cable repairman was on my street and asked me what time it was. I told him it was
between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
***
Sorry
Our minister, an avid golfer, was once taking part in a local tournament. As he was
preparing to tee off, the organiser of the tournament approached him and pointed to the
dark, threatening storm clouds which were gathering. “Sir," the organiser said, "I trust
you'll see to it that the weather won't turn bad on us."
Our minister shook his head. "Sorry," he replied. "I'm in sales, not management!”
***
3940
0
Place an advert in our church magazine - Open Door
and promote your group, event or business
Open Door is the quarterly parish magazine
for the churches of St Luke’s Tiptree,
All Saints’ Great Braxted,
All Saints’ Inworth
and
All Saints’ Messing
We have very good rates!
Charity and church events – special rates, please contact the Team Administrator
Quarter page £5.00 per edition ; Half page £10.00 per edition
Full page £20.00 per edition
Bookings & Enquiries to:
Christine Hall, Team Administrator
email thurstableteamadmin@btinternet.com or call 01621 819557
41Solutions:
42Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare
What a strange summer it’s been, with no visitors except by
appointment. Lady the pony has taken to wearing a flower
in her mane and the geese unlace volunteers’ shoes,
presumably out of boredom. I miss my public and
sympathise with the many humans who are staying at
home.
We’ve had few dogs in, some cats, kittens and rabbits. Two
Jackdaws, a collared dove and several pigeons have
recovered and flow away, an owl is being nursed back to
health. Sadly James, our handsome cockerel, has died due
to old age and illness but James II has ascended the throne!
We still cannot accept bric a brac and general household
items but we can take clean, undamaged clothing for recycling. Please leave in CLEAR
plastic bags only to ensure contents are visible. Regretfully, soiled clothes and bedding
have been found hidden in black plastic sacks in the past.
Hopefully we will take part in some festive events, COVID restrictions permitting, but
we need good quality items for Jeanette’s popular Tombola and Sheila’s ‘classy’ stall.
Contributions can be left at SESAW or phone 07881 785535 to arrange collection.
We really appreciate your continued support via JustGiving, the post, collection pots
and occasional mystery donors. During one of my security patrols one wet evening in
August, I noticed something left outside. With much effort I dragged it indoors and we
discovered a kind person had left their "Rainy Day Fund" for SESAW. Thank you for
every precious penny of the £8.40 which will help care for the animals, including me
Kenny (the Boss) Chihuahua.
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare,
Reg.Charity No.1124029. Stoke Road,
Leavenheath, CO6 4PP. 01787
43The opinions expressed in Open Door are not necessarily those of the Ministry Team, Team Council
or Parochial Church Councils of the Thurstable and Winstree Team Ministry. Open Door is not
responsible for errors or omissions, accuracy of the
44
content, nor the failure of any published event to
go ahead.You can also read
