St George, Castle Street, Kendal - August 2020 - St George's Church Kendal
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St George, Castle Street, Kendal
August 2020
www.kendalstgeorge.com
EASING LOCKDOWN
At a recent PCC meeting it was decided to open St George’s
church building for private prayer on Wednesday mornings
from 10am to 12noon, beginning on Wednesday 22nd July.
See the latest update about opening for public worship, on
page 15 . Meanwhile, our Zoom Communion services continue
at 10am on Sundays, and our weekday services as before.
What a difference!
More huge thanks to Julie and Mo – and others who joined
them from time to time – for all their work transforming the
grounds of the church. It really looks ‘cared for’ now and
certainly many of our community friends have commented on
the positive impact it has made. These two amazing ladies
have now turned their attention to tackling indoor
improvements in the office and the welcome area. Well done!
Jean Radley
From the Licensed Lay Minister
Hello Everyone,
Early evening on Monday 29th June, a sudden summer shower batters the
west-facing windows as a brilliant burst of sunlight lights up the room. I
dash through to the other side of the house and in the east is the most
amazing rainbow I’ve ever seen. The colours are so vivid, the arc so defined,
I’m sure I could pinpoint the crocks of gold as the bow earths itself into
field and garden beyond Appleby Road.
To echo the lines of William Wordsworth: ‘My heart leaps up when I behold
a rainbow in the sky’. It is always so. To me, the rainbow is God’s sign. In
the Bible we first see the rainbow as the sign of God’s Covenant through
Noah to all humankind that he would never again destroy the earth through
flood. As we look at the rainbow we can remember God’s love and mercy and
rejoice in the fruitfulness of the earth, the seasons of seedtime and
harvest, the witness of creation to his ‘great faithfulness’.
In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel and the Revelation to John, the rainbow
is seen as encircling the Lord on his heavenly throne. The rainbow is a
glimpse of heaven taking us beyond our present place and time into a scene
of eternal worship. It reminds us that God is near – the Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand – and we can reach out to our Heavenly Father knowing that he
sees, suffers with us and cares. His Covenant made through the sacrifice of
Jesus reveals a ‘Love that will not let me go’.
Whatever is going on in our lives the rainbow is a sign of hope. The Victorian
writer Thomas Carlyle described hope as a ‘smiling rainbow’ and, in the words
of a favourite hymn, we can ‘trace the rainbow through the rain’ and know
God’s promise that joy can flow from tears. God’s faithfulness promises
‘strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with
ten thousand beside’.
Living in ‘this green and pleasant land’, especially on its north-western edge,
we have the privilege of seeing many rainbows. Lots of opportunities for our
hearts to leap up and rejoice in our Creator, remember his faithfulness and
reach out to him in worship and trust.
1
Morning by morning may you see new mercies
and know his total love,
Maureen
P.S. In case the grapevine has not quite grown far enough I’d better
mention that I have now retired from being a Reader. Peter has been a
great support to me over the past 20 years or so through various academic
and training courses and the commitments of Readership and other offices
in church; it’s time now for us to look forward to serving the Lord together
in whatever adventure he may call us to. We’ll still be around at St
George’s when the opportunity comes.
SACRED SPACE : LUKE 10 : Martha and Mary
Read Luke 10: 38-42 several times until you are familiar with it.
Then read the reflection slowly, allowing yourself to become a part of
the story
In your imagination take yourself to Bethany – a village just outside
Jerusalem. Feel the temperature and the gentle breeze ..... listen to the
sounds ......notice the flat-topped houses.
As you look down the road you see Jesus and his disciples approaching .......
notice how they stop at one of the houses and are welcomed by a woman
named Martha........... you may wish to join them as they enter the
house ......................
Watch as Jesus and his disciples make themselves comfortable in the
largest room in the house – the place in which the men usually meet……..
Listen as Jesus begins to teach and note how Martha’s sister Mary enters
this male territory, sitting on the floor and listening intently to
2 Jesus .....................
How does Mary appear to you ....... is she comfortable in this male
company? ......................... Try to put yourself in her place .......... how do you
feel? ....................
Now in your imagination take yourself into another part of the house,
usually unseen by outsiders, the domain of the women .... see the feverish
activity as Martha prepares a meal for her guests ......................... Note this
activity ...................... Try to put yourself into Martha’s place ....................
What are you thinking as you hear Jesus’ voice in the next room and
picture Mary sitting demurely at his feet?...........................
Now take yourself back into the room where Jesus is teaching ..... does
Mary seem out of place in this male company?.... How do the men react to
her? Do they simply accept her, or are there some raised eyebrows? ….
Listen as Jesus teaches …. What is he saying? …….
As you observe all that is happening Martha bursts into the room .... listen
to her complaint about her sister ................ How does Mary react to this>
Is she embarrassed or angry? ………. How do the disciples react to this
interruption? ………….
And now listen to Jesus ...........
‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few
things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.’
What happens now? Does Mary help her sister, or does Martha sit and
listen to Jesus as he continues to teach? ………. What about the meal? …….
Come back into the present and in the silence of your heart tell Jesus of
your feelings of this incident .... Listen to his reply to you, in particular
hearing what he may have to say to you about those things which have
loomed so large in your life and which obscure for you the better things
that God has for you.
Thank God for what he has shown you in this reflection.
Jean Radley
3
Retirements Rev Canon Andrew Knowles. We were blessed a few years ago when Andrew and Diane Knowles joined our fellowship here at St George’s. We have been encouraged and challenged by Andrew’s sermons and have learnt much from them. We have been privileged that as a well known theologian and writer, Andrew became a member of our Beacon Ministry Team. As we have all discovered, Andrew is a lovely pastor as well. My daughter Ruth was so excited to meet him as she had loved his Hippity Dog stories when she was a little girl and I had run a ‘Hippity Dog’ Holiday Club at Crosscrake many years before. Indeed, Ruth still has copies of the books. Andrew has also been very active in the Diocese as a Tutor for Cumbria Christian Learning and has led quiet days and lectured at, for example, Rydal Hall. We’ve been so grateful to Diane and Andrew for their leadership of The Sunday Club and we have enjoyed hearing the children’s presentations at the end of our first Sunday services. As a former infant teacher Diane was bursting with ideas and the children learnt so much from them, as well as having lots of fun. After prayerful consideration, Andrew feels that the time has come for him to retire (‘retire again’ as he described it!). As such he will not be seeking to renew his license from the Bishop. We will so miss his ministry, and that of Diane. However, we’re delighted that they will remain much loved members of our fellowship, and thank them for all they have brought to us, We wish them many happy and fulfilled years in the future. Maureen Stevens It was a delight two or three years ago to welcome Licensed Lay Minister Maureen Stevens from St Thomas’s to our fellowship here at St George’s, along with her husband Peter. They quickly became popular members of our fellowship and have been a great blessing to us. Maureen has planned and led many of our All Age Worship Services (now Friends and Families) bringing a freshness to them, and we have appreciated her thoughtful sermons. Her Bible Studies have also been much appreciated and well attended. She has been active in the Diocese as well, first as Archdeaconry Sub-Warden of Readers and then as Archdeaconry Co-ordinator of Vocations Advisors. Peter has been 4
a blessing to us with his skilled craftsmanship and amazing ability to repair
almost anything – and his gentle unassuming nature! It’s lovely to see how their
love for Jesus shines out of all they do.
Like Andrew, Maureen has been giving prayerful consideration to her future
ministry. She too feels that the time has come to retire and will not be seeking
for the renewal of her license from the Bishop. We thank her for all her
contributions to our worship and learning and are delighted that she and Peter
intend to remain with us here at St George’s. We wish her a long and happy
retirement.
Appreciation
It’s difficult at the moment to mark Andrew and Maureen’s retirements as we
would wish to do, but hope that we will be able to do so in the not-too-distant
future.
Jean Radley
The new absolutely-must-have item for your kitchen
Here is a curious winner in the coronavirus crisis: the humble egg cup.
It has been flying off the shelves in recent months, as more of us find
solace in a cooked breakfast.
At one point, John Lewis had sold out of most of its egg cups, with
even the most expensive lines selling out. (Such as Le Creuset’s set of
six egg cups for £45, or Emma Bridgwater’s set of six for £27.95.)
As Nicola Hattersley, tableware buyer for John Lewis,
explained: “One positive from being at home more is
taking the time to make mealtimes more of an occasion.
“The humble egg cup – something many of us haven’t
used since childhood – is gracing tables once again and
hopefully we’ll see a new generation becoming familiar
with ‘soldiers’ and debating the best way to smash open
a boiled egg.”
5
Children’s pages 6
7
As fine as silver... Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study. They got to wondering what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest, so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, and then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be de- stroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver- smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I can see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you. His aim is not to abandon or destroy you, but to refine you - until He sees His image in you. 8
Appreciating nature’s simple pleasures :
Buttercups – treasure in our countryside
Buttercup! What a delicious name! Rumour has it that, as they were
frequently to be found in meadows where cows grazed, they were
responsible for butter's yellow colouring. So the name was an obvious
choice.
However, since buttercups are poisonous and therefore are avoided as
far as possible by our four-footed friends, this is somewhat unlikely.
But surely, we all remember having a buttercup held under our chin to
see whether the reflection proved that we liked butter! The shiny
surface of the petals actually has two real purposes. Firstly, to help
attract insects and secondly to act as a kind of mirror to aid the
temperature regulation of the plant's reproductive organs.
We are fortunate that buttercups do not suffer from the same
unpopularity as other poisonous plants, because if eaten, not only do
they taste nasty, but the poison will also cause blisters in the mouth of
the consumer. Extensive handling can also damage the skin, but
presumably the size of bunch that many of us picked as children did not
count as 'extensive'. Fortunately, Health and Safety experts do not yet
seem to have forbidden this source of pleasure for little people.
Incidentally, the poison is reduced as the plant dries, and hay that
includes buttercups is safe for cows and horses to eat.
Buttercups help form the traditional view of the British countryside.
Differing varieties range in height from small to quite tall and although
at their peak in early summer, the golden blooms can often still be seen
in mid-autumn. Jan Struther, who wrote 'Lord of all
hopefulness' also wrote a children's hymn entitled
'Treasure' It starts:
Daisies are our silver, buttercups our gold:
This is all the treasure we can have or hold.
By Kirsty Steele, retired teacher and active church organist 9Transfiguration by Reverend Mark I’Anson
Associate Priest of the Beacon Team Ministry
Hot on the heels of our blessed Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria, comes
the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Thursday 6th August)
Absolutely years ago, I trod some of those same steps as St. Oswald did
when I worked as a shepherd on an 'out-bye' hill farm in deepest
Northumberland.
The lane to the farm was about a mile from the council road, and the
nearest town of any consequence was Hexham which was about 15 miles
away. That was no deterrent for a night out. The real problem was that
there were 11 gates to open and close, before you got to the main road.
They're all cattle grids now, so you never have to expose yourself to the
elements. Snow, of course was the worst of all. You could usually get a
tractor through the drifts down to the council road, but if a gate was
drifted up, then it either had to be dug out or lifted off by its hinges. In
rain - well you just got wet. But it was misty conditions that were not so
much hazardous, but could be terrifying. You'd come up to the closed gate,
leave the head lights on, get out to open the gate and suddenly a great
shadow would loom up behind you and surround you. When that happened, it
could scare the wits out of you.
Now, I'm not sure that it was quite the same experience for Peter and
James and John, on that mountain with Jesus, but they too were
overshadowed by a cloud. Over-shadowing, in Biblical terms, generally means
the presence of the Holy Spirit. St. Luke, in his version, (Luke 9: 28-36)
tells us that though the disciples were weighed down with sleep, they did in
fact stay awake; which rather means that they didn't dream that whole
experience, but they were given to see it perhaps as a vision. And what
they saw, though they almost certainly didn't understand it, was one of
those rare gifted holy moments when the Holy Spirit touches peoples' lives,
giving them an insight of the reality of God in Christ in their lives. An
insight that can change a person's whole outlook on life for the rest of their
life.
10The Eucharist, our Holy Communion is one of the most profound moments
of transfiguration in our lives, yet we don't always see it.
We believe that ordinary bread and wine are transfigured by the mystery
of God into the Body and Blood of Christ. Through it we become
transformed into the being - the 'Body of Christ' now.
The gifts that we bring to the altar are effectively a symbol of ourselves.
In our Eucharistic prayer - the prayer calling down the Holy Spirit - the
overshadowing, the priest as celebrant at the eucharist prays that by the
power of the Holy Spirit these gifts (ourselves) may be to us the Body
and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And then that precious moment of communion when we receive the
sacrament, the moment that must be received in complete quietness, as we
contemplate the full meaning of our transfigured lives; the call from God
through Jesus Christ that we may be changed into his likeness.
And why? So that we can feel more complete? feel more holy? feel more
a part of the Body of Christ? NO! so that we can BE complete,
BE a holy people and BE the Body of Christ.
One of those who witnessed that vision of transfiguration, but said nothing
of it at the time, became compelled to write about it much later. Saint
Peter, in his Epistle (2 Peter 1: 17-19) tells us this:
‘You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining
in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts.’
Holy God,
we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:
may we who are partakers at his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power
to change and save.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
11Puzzle pages (answers on pages 13 and 14)
This month’s crossword Across
1 and 3 Two of the disciples who witnessed
the transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28)
(4,3,5)
3 See 1 Across
8 ‘Let us draw — to God with a sincere heart
in full assurance of faith’ (Hebrews 10:22 (4)
9 O Simon is (anag.) (8)
11 Form of government under the direct rule
of God or his agents (10)
14 How Jesus found his disciples when he
returned to them after praying in
Gethsemane (Luke 22:45) (6)
15 In The Pilgrim’s Progress, the name of the
meadow into which Christian strayed, which
led to Doubting Castle (2-4)
17 Glad sin rat (anag.) (10)
20 Spinal column (Leviticus 3:9) (8)
21 Valley of the Balsam Tree with a reputation of being a waterless place (Psalm 84:6)
(4)
22 ‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one — — sees clearly’ (Numbers
24:3) (5,3)
23 Adam and Eve’s third son (Genesis 4:25) (4)
Down
1 David’s great friend (1 Samuel 20:17) (8)
2 ‘The Lord... will bring me safely to his — kingdom’ (2 Timothy 4:18) (8)
4 ‘I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; — — or wine touched my
lips’ (Daniel 10:3) (2,4)
5 Seeking to vindicate (Job 32:2) (10)
6 Female servant (Isaiah 24:2) (4)
7 ‘For Christ died for — once for all’ (1 Peter 3:18) (4)
10 ‘Offering spiritual sacrifices — to God through Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 2:5) (10)
12 Jesus said that some people had renounced this ‘because of the kingdom of
heaven’ (Matthew 19:12) (8)
13 One of the three men thrown into the furnace for refusing to worship
Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image (Daniel 3:20) (8)
16 ‘You have — of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be
merry’ (Luke 12:19) (6)
18 ‘There before me was a white horse! Its rider held — — , and he was given a
crown’ (Revelation 6:2) (1,3)
19 Equipment to Charity Hospitals Overseas (1,1,1,1)Wordsearch : August is a quiet month as far as the Church calendar is concerned,
th
except that during the 11 century, some church fathers slipped in an important day - the
Transfiguration of Jesus, when His disciples were given just a glimpse of His future glory
(Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9). Jesus took Peter, James and John, his closest disciples, up a high
mountain. This is often identified as either Mount Tabor (there is a great church up there today),
or one of the three spurs of Mount Hermon, which overlook Caesarea Philippi. High up on the
mountain, Jesus was suddenly transfigured before His disciples. His face began to shine as the sun,
His garments became white and dazzling. Elijah and Moses, who represent the Law and the
Prophets of the Old Covenant , suddenly appeared, and talked with Him. A
bright cloud overshadowed the disciples, and a divine Voice spoke out of the
cloud, saying that Jesus was His beloved son, whom the disciples should ‘hear’.
God’s dwelling with mankind depends upon our listening to Jesus.
White
Transfiguration Dazzling
Jesus Elijah
Mountain Moses
Tabor Dwelling
Hermon Mankind
Caesarea Law
Philippi Prophets
High Peter
Shine James
Face John
Cloud Fear
Transformed Glory
Crossword answers Sudoku
13Sudoku and wordsearch answers
More than 32,000 of
us struggle to change
a light bulb
When it comes to DIY, some of us
need more help than you might
think. Last year Google was asked
how to change a light bulb more
than 30,000 times.
Other DIY jobs that drove people
to Google were how to fix a
dripping tap (422,000 times), and
how to bleed a radiator (322,000
times). Safestyle, the home
improvement company that carried
out the research, said the Google
is the ‘go to’ for millions of us who
are baffled by DIY tasks.
14Re-opening Update
St George’s opened its doors to the public for private prayer on
22nd July for the first time since lockdown. Huge thanks to our
team of Dirt Busters for cleaning it all prior to opening. Huge
thanks also to Julie who has painstakingly prepared the church
with the legal requirements for social distancing - measuring and placing
necessary stickers identifying where we may or may not sit - and with two
metre spaced ‘footprints’ identifying safe distancing. Although we’re the
same as the Methodist Churches and St Thomas’s in our decision not to
open for public worship until September at the earliest, we’ll find it all
very different when we finally do open. We will have to enter one at a
time (or one family at a time) There won’t be the usual gathering for a chat
in the Welcome Area, and we may not be able to sit in our usual pew. There
won’t be any singing – though we may use CDs, and of course we’ll be able to
listen to the organ. After the service we’ll have leave one pew
at a time, still observing distancing - we’ll have to leave
immediately without our usual coffee and chat.
However, our main reason to come to church is to worship
God – and that will not have changed
15Thinking about getting OUT AND ABOUT :
Conishead Priory, Ulverston
Recommended by Pam Kojder
Conishead is one of our favourite spots to take
visitors to South Lakes or just to spend a fun
afternoon with the grandchildren …… and it’s
gradually opening up again from lockdown. The origins
of this medieval priory date back to the 12th century
and it has undergone many interesting re-incarnations which are
documented on display boards inside the historic house.
Since 1976 Conishead Priory
has been the home of
Buddhist communities with
the beautiful Kadampa
Temple for World Peace
constructed in the grounds.
Visitors are most welcome to
look around the Temple
which is described as ’a place for quiet reflection and spiritual inspiration’.
It provides a wonderful opportunity to find out about a place of worship
from a different world faith. You can even join in one of the regular simple
15 minute guided meditation sessions to find inner peace, if you so wish.
On site there is a café, a gift and book shop, as well acres of grounds for
picnics and exploring. There are three marked woodland walks, the shortest
of which leads through the woods to the beach on Morecambe Bay in about
6 minutes. Also known as the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, it is to
be found about 2 miles outside Ulverston, on the A5087 Coast Road.
16Poetry Time
Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth
Some years ago I worked in London and I still enjoy visiting this great city
– not at the moment, of course, but hopefully once more in the not-too-
distant future. I have often stood upon Westminster Bridge and quoted
this beautiful sonnet to myself as I surveyed the scene – a little different
now than in the times of Wordsworth. It was written on September 3 rd,
1802 during the time of the Industrial Revolution.
Jean Radley
EARTH has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still.The long goodbye… Well at last nearly three months after the event was planned, I got my send off from the Beacon Team. Strict Social Distancing rules were in operation so it was limited numbers who could attend, but I am glad to say that it was filmed so the event has been recorded for posterity and will become available to view in due course. Also, using technology Joseph and his fiancée Natalie and Emily with her partner were able to take part via Messenger Video. Missing was Jayne who is indisposed with labyrinthitis – hardly able to move without becoming dizzy. People said some lovely things about me and if I am half as good as what they said I’m three quarter of the way to becoming a ‘Saint’!! What was both humbling and gratifying at the same time, was the fact that from what was said had had in no small part become the priest had had always aspired to be – without really realising it. I suppose I am a half empty guy when it come to me, but a half full guy when it come top everyone else! There was a cake which Pauline Robson had made (see the picture) and an amazingly generous cheque for which Jayne and I are profoundly grateful. Undoubtedly it was a bittersweet occasion which left me lost for words, as those who were present probably realised, but now having re-established my emotional equilibrium here come the pretentious priestly bit!! Two verses from Luke’s Gospel chapter 17:9, 10 came to mind which encapsulates what I have been about all these years. You can look them up, but if you read on, I save you the time. Here they are taken from the Contemporary English Version translation of the Bible. They are words of Jesus to his disciples: 18
Servants don’t deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed
to do.
And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should,
then say,
“We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.”
So, to end one of my favourite Blessing, which John Rutter set to music
for the Cambridge Singers:
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
1920
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