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St. George’s Pontesbury
Magazine 50p
February 2020
The Parish of Pontesbury
Contact details:
Rector & Curate Little Dragons
Positions currently vacant Mrs Valerie Butterworth 790587
Reader Emeritus Mothers’ Union
Mrs Dorothy Headland 790565 Mrs Marion Elliott 792256
Churchwardens Prayer Chain Coordinator
Allen Marsden 791822 Mary Worrall 791069
Mary Worrall 791069 Parish Visitors Team
Assistant Churchwardens Marion Elliott 792256
Mrs Helen McCall 790296 Bell Tower Officers
mobile 07985 312192 Captain: Mrs Sheila Bower 790294
Mrs Heather Ryder 790359 Website
Treasurer Mr Richard Elliott 792256
Mr Gerald Worrall 791069 webmaster@st-george.org.uk
PCC Secretary Magazine Editor
Mrs Valerie Butterworth 790587 Mrs Sheila Bower 790294
West End Room Booking Advertisements
Contact Mary Worrall 791069 Mrs Marion Elliott 792256
Organist & Choirmaster Printing team
Position currently vacant Mrs Carolyn Lewis 860714
Friday Club stgsprinting@gmail.com
Mrs Mary Worrall 791069
QUOTE:
Life is too short for us to do everything we want to do; but it is
long enough for us to do everything God wants us to do. - Anon
Contributions for St. George’s Magazine should be in by
the 10TH of the previous month.
Contributions received later than 18th may not be included until the following month.
Send E-mail & attachments to stgsmagazine@googlemail.com
Please leave handwritten items in an envelope in the WER.
Website: www.st-george.org.uk
Items for inclusion in the Deanery News to be submitted by 10th of previous month to
Alison Bebb - Keepers Cottage, Cruckmeole, Shrewsbury, SY5 8JN
Telephone: 01743 860158 email: alisonbebb5@gmail.com
2
From the On-Line Vicar
Lent Fasting
This month sees the start of Lent, the season of penitence, self-
examination and fasting running up to Easter. Fasting can be a ne-
glected discipline, but it plays an important part in the Christian
life. Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting in the wilderness
for 40 days and He taught His disciples to fast (i.e. not if but ‘when
you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will
not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Fa-
ther, who is unseen.’ (Matthew 6:17,18).
Why Fast?
Firstly, giving up something in my life underlines my desire to put
God first in my life. Secondly, fasting shows me how much I de-
pend on things other than God in my life, so I can surrender my
idols to Him. Thirdly, fasting encourages me to have a deeper hun-
ger and dependency for God in my life. Therefore, fasting gives me
space to humbly focus on God for His strength, provision, and wis-
dom and results in a more intimate relationship with Christ. It also
enables the Holy Spirit to reveal my true spiritual condition, lead-
ing to brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life, with a heart
more attentive to God.
How can I fast?
Usually fasting involves missing one or two meals during the day,
although some can’t abstain from food for medical reasons. It
might also include abstaining or limiting the time I give to televi-
sion, alcohol or social media. However, Lent can also be a time to
embrace new spiritual disciplines e.g. joining a study group,
‘random acts of kindness’, or giving more time to prayer and Bible
study.Whatever you do, make Lent count this year!
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6).
3
Services and Readings for the month
DATE TIME SERVICE READINGS
nd
2 February 8.00am Holy Communion Malachi 3: 1-5
Presentation Hebrews 2: 14-end
of Christ in 10.30am Holy Communion Luke 2: 22-40
the Temple
(Candlemas)
9th February 8.00am Holy Communion Isaiah 58: 1-9a
Third 1 Corinthians 2:
Sunday 10.30am Holy Communion 1-12
Before Lent Matthew 5: 13-20
16th February 8.00am NO SERVICE Genesis 1: 1-2.3
Second Romans 8:18-25
Sunday 10.30am Holy Communion Matthew 6: 25-end
Before Lent
23rd February 8.00am Holy Communion Exodus 24: 12-end
Sunday next 2 Peter 1: 16-end
before Lent 10.30am Café Church Matthew 17: 1-9
26th February TBA Holy Communion Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17
Ash and 2 Corinthians 5:
Wednesday Ashes 20b-6: 10
John 8: 1-11
COLLECTS a note from Christopher Cooke
I grew up with the 1980 Alternative Service Book and its Collects.
Sundays usually had themes, and the ASB listed the Collect and
Readings (for two years) together.
The 2000 Common Worship moved to a three year set of readings.
This has been a great success but what was done with Collects has
been a bit more controversial, as many of the ASB Collects were
4
converted into Post-Communion Prayers. Many of Thomas Cran-
mer’s Collects from the Book of Common Prayer with their longish
endings, were reworked.
You will see that the Collects are grouped separately from the
Readings in Common Worship.
In Ordinary Time (the Sundays after Epiphany, and those after
Trinity), the Collect and the Readings were put on different
schemes of use.
The idea was that a certain Sunday would always have a specific
Collect and people would always associate that Collect with that
Sunday. I do not think this was realistic and it has not really
worked. The Readings meanwhile, depended on how early or late
Easter occurred.
Anyway, in 2003 a new set of Alternative Collects were prepared,
and in Minsterley and the Stiperstones Group people are beginning
to use these. We will be using them for a trial period in St.
George’s.
Collect Alternative Collect
Epiphany Epiphany
O God, who by the leading of a Creator of the heavens, who led
star manifested your only Son to the Magi by a star to worship
the peoples of the earth: merciful- the Christ-child: guide and
ly grant that we, who know you sustain us, that we may find our
now by faith, may at last behold
your glory face to face; through
journey’s end in Jesus Christ our
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Lord.
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever.
Epiphany 3
Almighty God, whose Son re- God of all mercy, your Son pro-
vealed in signs and miracles the claimed good news to the poor,
wonder of your saving presence: release to the captives, and
renew your people with your freedom to the oppressed:
heavenly grace, and in all our
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
weakness sustain us by your
mighty power; through Jesus and set all your people free to
Christ your Son our Lord, who is praise you in Christ our Lord.
alive and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.
5
Tony Horsfall of Charis Training (www.charistraining.co.uk) considers
everyone’s need for love.
Where is love?
In this month, when we celebrate St Valentine’s
Day, this poignant question is one many people
will be asking, especially the young and hopeful.
Perhaps you remember these words from the
beautiful song in Lionel Bart’s musical, Oliver?
The young street boy Oliver Twist sings plaintively
of his longing to find ‘someone who I can mean something to’.
The need to find love is a fundamental requirement of human
flourishing, and it is there within us all, young and old alike. But
where do we find such love? The natural thing is to assume that it
can be found in another person, the person of our dreams. Ro-
mantic love seems to offer the answer to our longing, but reality is
often different. Once the shine has worn off a relationship, we see
the other person as they really are – another fragile human being
also searching for love. So, for many the search begins again, an
endless looking for the elusive partner who will love us without
condition.
Oliver comes near to answering his own question when he sings,
‘Does it come from skies above?’ The only love that can satisfy the
deep longing of the human heart does in fact come ‘from above’. It
comes from heaven, and it comes to us from God in the form of a
person, Jesus Christ. He was the embodiment of the love of God,
and through His life and death demonstrated the enormity of the
love that God has for each of us. Here is a love like no other – reli-
able, sure, unchanging, healing, accepting.
Human love is a wonderful blessing, but divine love alone can
meet our need. In God alone we find the perfect Someone, the one
who we can mean something to.
QUOTE:
Even if marriages are made in heaven,
man has to be responsible for the maintenance. -Anon
6
Lent begins at the end of February, so this may be useful in helping our
preparation. By the Rev John Tyler.
Lent – a good time to deepen your prayer life
Lent is a time to take stock of ourselves spiritually. This includes
setting aside extra time for prayer. Here are some helpful things
to remember as you settle down to it:
People have been praying since Adam had a grandson named
Enosh. The Bible tells us (Genesis 4:26) that it was during his
days when ‘men began to call on the name of the Lord’. They
have been doing it ever since.
People have had their prayers answered by God since Genesis, too.
But if you want to read some beautiful prayers – and answers to
them, browse through the Psalms. Again and again the psalmist
writes: “the Lord heard my cry”.
So – what do you need to bring to prayer? Just the tiniest amount
of faith that God is even there.... Jesus assures us that even faith
as big as a tiny mustard seed will be effective.
What gives you the right to come before Almighty God? Jesus
does. The Bible is clear that “there is one mediator between God
and men, the man Jesus Christ”. (1 Timothy 2:5)
The Bible makes clear that God does not stand on ceremony – in
fact, He prefers our personal, spontaneous prayers. Jesus was
very matter of fact about it: “When you pray, go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward
you.” (Matthew 6:6)
The Bible assures us that prayer will bring us good things: “we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
(Hebrews 4:16)
7
Above all, prayer must be made with a pure heart. “If I had cher-
ished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm
66:18) That simply means that if you know you are doing some-
thing wrong, and intend to keep right on doing it, don’t waste your
time praying.
Finally, what can be the results of your prayers this Lent? Well,
here are seven, for starters....
1. Joy and deep happiness. (John 16:24)
2. Relief from your worry, stress and tension (Philippians 4:6,7)
3. Wisdom and more mental clarity (James 1:5,6)
4. Protection and deliverance from temptations (Matthew 26:41)
5. An ability to share the Good News of Jesus to other people
(Matthew 9:38)
6. Strength to persevere when you feel under spiritual attack
(Ephesians 6:18)
7. A growing thankfulness to God, who is worthy of all glory
(Revelation 4:11)
What do we do when we doubt our faith?
More thoughts from Tony Horsfall of Charis Training
I believe, help my unbelief
I was in a discussion recently as to whether or not a Christian can
have doubts. The father in Mark’s story (9:17-27) speaks for many
people. He knew that Jesus could heal his son, but just wasn’t
quite sure if He would.
Doubt comes in many forms. It may be intellectual, a form of wres-
tling with the truth of certain key Christian beliefs like the Virgin
Birth or the inerrancy of the Bible. It may be philosophical, a pon-
dering of the problem of evil and why God allows bad things to
happen to good people. Sometimes it is spiritual, and doubting
whether or not we are saved. Occasionally it is emotional, wonder-
ing if we are loveable, if we have any worth or value in God’s sight.
8
Such doubts are painful and debilitating, but true faith does not ex-
clude the possibility of doubt. Indeed, we could say that faith would
not be faith if there was not an element of doubt!
Often doubt is a way by which we discover the truth in a deeper
way as we wrestle honestly with the questions we have. For many
it is a way by which faith grows and matures, leading us to a great-
er understanding of the mystery of God and the reality that with
our finite minds we can never understand everything about God or
the way in which He works.
Doubt is not the same an unbelief, which is a stubborn refusal to
believe what the Bible says to be true. Doubt is more a normal part
of faith development and is not to be feared, especially if we bring
our questions to God.
The great Methodist minister Dr William Sangster was asked if he
ever doubted. “Yes,” he replied, “of course I have doubts. But I al-
so doubt my doubts!”
Written by Dr Ruth M. Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at
The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Ruth writes
on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Every person who ever lived was once a sperm and an egg. Those
two cells fused together, and in nine months they turned into a liv-
ing, breathing, human being. Each of us emerged from this same
embryonic development process, which is highly complex and or-
ganised, but variable enough to turn out a
unique individual every time.
If you like order – such as neat piles of sta-
tionery, or tidy colour-coded files – you will
enjoy this story. One of the most important
stages of an embryo’s development is when
each section of the body, from head to
rump, takes on its identity. Each part is told
what shape to take, and which limbs or
9
internal organs to grow: legs or arms, lungs or kidneys, and so on.
The most beautiful part of this body-patterning process is that it
brings the dimensions of time and space together in such a neat
way. The DNA instructions for the procedure, known as genes, are
organised in the order in which they are needed during develop-
ment which is also the order in which they appear on the body. No
other sets of genes are known to be arranged in such a tidy pat-
tern.
So, as the embryo develops, the tissues near the head end acti-
vate the first sets of genes. Those active genes then make all the
proteins needed for that part of the body to grow and develop in
the right way. The tissues just below the head then switch on the
second set of genes, and so on. A wave of activation passes down
the embryo, specifying each section of the trunk in turn.
The Wisconsin-based developmental biologist Jeff Hardin often
quotes Psalm 139 to express the wonder of embryonic develop-
ment. The Psalmist did not understand how this process happened,
but he knew that it was a marvellous thing. “For you created my
inmost being; you knit me together in my
mother’s womb…your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. My frame was not hid-
den from you when I was made in the se-
cret place, when I was woven together in
the depths of the earth.”
The story of the tidy genes brings out the
hidden beauty in the very early stages of
embryonic development. The more biolo-
gists get to find out about how we came to
be born, the more we can say, “I am fear-
fully and wonderfully made”!
QUOTES: Anon
Faith is the ability to not panic.
If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
10This month’s
TEA SERVICE Tuesday 4th February
at 2.30pm in the End Room.
Please do come and join us for
n Holy Communion followed by chat,
r tea and cakes.
If it would help, we are able to provide transport.
Ring/contact Marion Elliott (792256)
or Mary McCall (790608)
St. George’s PARISH VISITORS
Would you, or someone you know, appreciate some help or a visit
from a friendly face? Maybe you’re feeling lonely,
in need of support and friendship? It takes more than just health
and money to be happy, you need good relationships
with friends and family.
Being a member of a social group
n can help you to feel better.
St. George’s Church has a team of friendly people who would love
to visit you whatever the reason - if we can help, we will!
Call in confidence: Phone Marion Elliott 01743 792256
Regular food donations: You can help by donating
long life foods and other important items, and this
month TINNED MAIN MEALS would be
really welcome.
The Food bank would also appreciate the following to support
some of their clients: Curtains, Double size Duvet Sets (as
new) and Double size Bed Sheets (as new).
As always, leave things in the basket at the entrance to the WER.
www.barnabascommunityprojects.org/foodbank.html
11Christians Worshipping in Pontesbury
Lent Lunches & Reflections
Fridays from 28th February to 3rd April
at St George’s Church
12.30 – 1.30pm
Everyone is welcome to come along and meet for lunch and fellowship.
Join us at St George’s for home-made soup and a roll, followed by
brief reflections on the Easter Message.
WORLD
DAY of PRAYER
BY THE WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE
Rise! Take your mat and walk.
Love Peace Reconciliation
Friday 6th March, 2.30pm
at
Pontesbury Hill Methodist Church
Followed by refreshments
All are very welcome!
12George writing: Busy, busy, busy! Uncle Sam, Idris and my-
self have been so very, very busy during the past weeks. All the
Senior Dragons have very involved in doing things in church, all
helping each other to keep things moving as they should over
Christmas and something called The New Year, organising Ser-
vices, parties and starting the new term at Little Dragons, so we
three have had to keep our eye on things.
From our secret spy spot, we have seen lots of people come into
church and many of them have lit candles and had a quiet little sit
down near the candles; some have just had a walk round and
seem to have enjoyed the quietness. We heard one lady say how
peaceful it felt just to sit for a few minutes quietly on one of the
wooden seats.
We have also heard lots of wonderful singing; some of it from lots
of people sitting on the wooden seats and some from the bunch
known as the choir. They have all been quite sad for a few weeks
but have really worked at their singing and we heard them saying
that they wanted to do really well – for Jack! They are working
hard, practising lots of songs, probably to keep themselves cheer-
ful and to have some songs ready for the things they call Services.
All in all, everyone seems to be really busy keeping the church
nice and comfortable for anyone who comes in. We keep hearing
them say, ‘Won’t it be nice when we have appointed!’…..whatever
that might mean!
In the meantime, we three, will continue to keep our eye on
things. This is a pretty special place to be and we feel very lucky
to be part of this St. George’s place.
Best wishes from we three,
George, Uncle Sam & Idris.
PS. Val asks us to send good wishes to everyone.
13FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A PUZZLE ! 14
By Tim Lenton
….. Anne Frank and her diary
Anne Frank, the Dutch Jewish diarist and Holocaust vic-
tim, died 75 years ago, in February 1945, in Bergen-
Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15 – probably
from typhus. She is known for writing The Diary of a
Young Girl, an account of how she and seven others
were hidden in a secret annex to escape the Nazis.
The group had been arrested the previous August, and only Anne’s
father Otto survived the war. At first it was believed they had been
betrayed, but it is now thought possible that they were discovered
by accident.
The Diary, which Anne – who was born in Germany – started writ-
ing at the age of 13, is the story of how ordinary people risked their
lives to help those in need, but it says little about the unclear rela-
tionship the Dutch had with Nazi Germany. Up to 80% of the Dutch
Jewish population were killed during the war – the second highest
percentage after Poland.
The diary, which had been kept safe by Otto’s secretary, Miep Gies,
was published in English in 1952 and has since been translated into
more than 60 languages. The Anne Frank House, a museum in Am-
sterdam, opened in May 1960. Asteroid 5535 Annefrank was named
in Anne’s honour in 1995.
….. Eric Liddell – Olympic gold medallist
and prisoner of war
Eric Liddell, the Scottish athlete who became a
400-metre Olympic gold medallist in 1924, died
75 years ago, on 21st February 1945, in a Japa-
nese internment camp in China. He was 43 and
had a brain tumour.
Because of his Christian convictions he had
withdrawn from the 100-metre heats in the
1924 Paris Olympics because they took place on a Sunday. He en-
tered the 400-metre heats instead – and won.
15He also got bronze in the 200 metres, where he finished ahead of his Jewish team-mate Harold Abrahams, the 100-metre gold med- allist. Their story is told in the classic 1981 film, Chariots of Fire. Born in China to missionary parents, Liddell went to boarding school for 12 years at Eltham College, South London, where he continues to be recognised as inspirational. He was always an out- standing sportsman but never failed to put God first. He returned to China after studying pure science at Edinburgh University and married a Canadian missionary, Florence Mackenzie. While in internment camp, despite his tumour and weakness, he gave hope to others, being seen as a great unifying force. He helped to ease tensions through his selflessness and was admired for the way he forgave his captors. ….. Nelson Mandela – freed 30 years ago Nelson Mandela, who led the movement to end South African apartheid, was released from prison 30 years ago this month, on 11th February 1990. He became President of South Africa in 1994. Mandela had been involved with the African National Congress since 1944, advocating non-violent resistance. But after the Sharpeville massacre of peaceful demonstrators in 1960, he helped organise a paramilitary branch of the ANC. He was arrested for treason in 1961 but was acquitted. He was ar- rested again in 1962 for illegally leaving the country, then again in 1964 on charges of sabotage. The same year he was sentenced to life in prison. When F W de Klerk became President in 1989, as part of the shift away from apartheid he lifted the ban on the ANC, and then or- dered Mandela’s release. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela was raised as a Methodist and had strong Christian convictions, which he rarely aired in pub- lic for fear of alienating those who did not believe. In 1999 he said: "Without the church, without reli- gious institutions, I would never have been here today … Religion was one of the motivating factors in everything we did." 16
IN THE NEWS
China is often in the News these days. Unfortunately, the Church
there is widely persecuted ….
Church ordered to replace name sign with political slogan
as Chinese authorities step up ‘sinicisation’ campaign
Chinese authorities have forced doors and windows and confis-
a church in Jiangxi province to cated the keys to the church,
paint over its name and replace which is registered under the
it with a communist slogan, state-sanctioned Patriotic Asso-
“Follow the Party, Obey the Par- ciation, preventing the congre-
ty, and Be Grateful to the Par- gation from gaining access for
ty,” amid increasing attempts by worship.
officials to ‘sinicise’ (make Chi-
nese) Christianity. Elsewhere in Jiangxi province,
elderly members of an unofficial
Late last year The True and house church, operating outside
Original Source of the Universe of the Patriotic Association, were
church in Ji’an city was also or- told by the authorities in Poyang
dered to remove a painting of a county that their retirement
biblical figure from a prominent pensions would be stopped if
position and replace it with a they continued to gather for
portrait of China’s President Xi worship. Officials also removed
Jinping, surrounded with com- crosses and religious banners
munist party slogans. and replaced them with portraits
of President Xi and Chairman
Days later, officials locked the Mao Zedong.
Christians in Nigeria are facing a ferocious, threefold attack.
Nigeria named as key Christian persecution hotspot in 2020
As late last year Islamic State show the beheading of 10 Chris-
released a video claiming to tians in Nigeria and the shooting
show the killing of 11 Christians of an eleventh. The video was
in Nigeria, persecution watchdog produced by the terrorist group,
Release International named Ni- Islamic State West Africa Prov-
geria as a country of special ince (ISWAP). Its release on De-
concern for 2020. Other perse- cember 26 appeared to be timed
cution hotspots are likely to in- to coincide with the Christmas
clude Iran, Iraq, China and India. celebrations.
A splinter group of Boko Haram
produced the video claiming to ISWAP claimed the hostage
17murders were in revenge for the ni militia who are killing thou-
death of IS leader Abu Bakr al- sands and taking over their vil-
Baghdadi, who killed himself lages.
during an attack by US forces in
October. Archbishop Ben Kwashi, says:
“Across the north, the mainly
Voice-over commentary to the Muslim Fulani have been taking
video stated: ‘This message is to land from predominantly Chris-
the Christians in the world. tian farmers by force and occu-
Those you see are Christians and pying their villages.
we will shed their blood as re-
venge.’ They attack, typically, in the
middle of the night while people
The latest murders came as per- are sleeping. They shoot in the
secution watchdog Release In- air and create panic to drive the
ternational named Nigeria as a villagers out. When the people
key country of concern for 2020. flee from their houses into the
darkness, the Fulani lie in wait
Tens of thousands of Christians with their machetes and cut
are being driven from their them down. Again and again.
homes by the ongoing persecu- And the government seems pow-
tion in Nigeria. Nigeria’s govern- erless to stop them.”
ment appears to lack the will or
the power to prevent the kill- Writing in a recent book, Neither
ings. Bomb Nor Bullet (Lion Hudson
2019), Archbishop Kwashi
Christians in Nigeria are being warns: “Nigeria has become the
targeted by three Islamist terror largest killing ground for Chris-
groups: Boko Haram, its offshoot tians in the world today.”
ISWAP, and heavily armed Fula-
Church of England Christmas advert got 170,000 views in
just 48 hours
The Church of England’s Christ- on Twitter, entirely through or-
mas Advert for 2019 was ganic sharing by churches and
viewed more than 170,000 individuals.
times in the two days following
its launch, with viewers tuning For the first time, the CofE had
in via Twitter, Facebook, Insta- also created interactive stickers
gram and YouTube. for churches and individuals to
use as part of their social media
In the first 48 hours, the advert posts and stories, which have
received over 110,000 views on already been seen nearly
Facebook, and a further 60,000 160,000 times.
18An Open Letter to the Prime Minister
The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Confer-
ence have written to the new Prime Minister, assuring him
of their prayers and asking for clarification on key issues
including climate change, poverty and social cohesion.
The letter says:
We wish to congratulate you on being given the responsibility by the
British electorate to form a government, and assure you of our pray-
ers and the prayers of the Methodist people as you take on that re-
sponsibility.
Churches are rooted in communities around Britain. It is our task to
emphasise, from our ground level experience of British society, issues
which we believe must be seen as key priorities.
Creation does not belong to us. Our task is to nurture and recognise
our place within it. Many of our members see climate change and en-
vironmental degradation as the most pressing issues of our day. Can
you tell us what steps you will be taking internationally and
domestically to help the UK to reach its climate change tar-
gets? What kind of lead will you be taking at the 2020 UN Cli-
mate Change Conference in Glasgow?
Many of our churches and church members are involved in running
foodbanks and offering support for people caught up in poverty. Food-
banks should not have to exist. Can you clarify for us what steps
your new government will take to address the scandalous lev-
els of poverty, and particularly child poverty?
The church is an inter-generational, multi-ethnic, socially diverse col-
lection of communities. It is far from perfect. But we have seen in our
communities growing forms of hostility, divisiveness and hatred, and
have sought to support people who have experienced such dis-
cord. What active steps will your government now take to work
towards healing and greater concord in society?
We wrote to you, Prime Minister, in July 2019 to express our concern
that a No Deal Brexit was likely to impact the poorest communities
very hard indeed. We wish to reaffirm our concern that the poorest in
society face huge risks as our trading relations with EU are rewritten.
We seek your reassurance that needs of families fac-
ing poverty will be central to the proposed trade deal
and that should it not be in place before the transition
period expires that comprehensive measures are put
in place to protect them from the ensuing upheaval.
From Revd Dr Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference
and Professor Clive Marsh, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference.
19THE DIOCESE OF HEREFORD February 2020
From the Archdeacon of Hereford , Ven. Derek Chedzey
"I’m not busy"
This year Lent begins in the last week of February and I have been
reflecting recently on the various traditions and activities that sur-
round this season of the churches year. We all love Shrove Tuesday
with pancakes and all the fun associated with it and Ash Wednes-
day with its very visible sign of penitence but if you are anything
like me then Lent loses its focus.
Don’t misunderstand me I have tried giving things up and can easi-
ly go without chocolate or alcohol but it doesn’t make me feel much
more holy. In truth, I am more likely to be less holy and more Vic-
tor Meldrew. I have tried taking things up and again I can set out a
bit like New Year Resolutions with lots of good intentions but very
quickly things crowd in and the opportunity is swamped. We are
not short of initiatives to help both from National Church and local,
we have Lent courses and Lent lunches and a plethora of things we
can do.
In fact, this is my problem we tend to give value to activity and ac-
tion and much less value on reflection and contemplation. Lent is
ultimately a penitential season so we console ourselves with the
sense we are as the Prayer Book puts it ‘acknowledging our wretch-
edness and lamenting our sins.’ Yet I think if we are honest many
of us feel chased from pillar to post constantly busy and to use a
different metaphor 'chasing our tails.'
We live in a world of instant everything not least because smart
phones, email, tablets and the like make us instantly contactable
and before we know it we are controlled and ruled by the very
technology that was supposed to make our lives easier. Yet actually
we are or at least should be in control of our own destiny and time.
As the Clinical Psychologist Dr Henry Cloud has observed: ‘If you
don’t learn to say no and be a steward over your time and energy,
then you are not going to have any to give.’
We often find we don’t have capacity to do stuff but the reality is
often all of us fill our time with the first thing we are asked to do
rather than consider whether it is the right thing or whether we are
20the best person to do it. We are responsible for our own actions
and we shouldn’t blame anyone else when we get overloaded. Self
-management, self-discipline and self-control are all part of man-
aging our capacity and stewarding our time.
So I have committed myself over the last few years to use Lent to
say: ‘I am not busy.’ To actively when people ask not to use the
words ‘I am busy’ or ‘I am so busy’. Instead to stop reflect and
create space to say No. To not talk about my capacity, or my full
diary but instead to refuse to give in to unnecessary business and
to give space to the things that matter. It is not about taking
something up or giving something up it is instead about discipline,
self-control and being kind to myself and others.
So why not join me in rejecting the sense of business? It is both
disabling and guilt inducing and instead embrace the freedom that
is found in being a ‘human being’ rather than a ‘human doing’.
Praying in Lent—a message from Bishop Alistair
Following the departure of Bishop Richard Frith last autumn, our
thoughts also begin to turn to the arrival and ministry of his suc-
cessor Richard who will join us in the spring.
It will be a short “inter-regnum” and perhaps one of the best
things we can do during it is to pray for our new Bishop and his
ministry, and for the life and mission of our whole diocese during
the years to come.
Lent is traditionally a time to deepen our prayer, and so I am call-
ing the diocese to do just that in Lent 2020 and in particular to
pray with the intention I have just named.
There are many ways to pray. We will be circulating a small leaflet
listing some resources both on prayer and current Lenten material,
and my hope is that each of you, individually and corporately in
our churches, will “pray as you can (not as you can’t!)” for God’s
will to be done and his kingdom to come in this new phase of our
life, and for all God’s people to be able to say from their hearts,
“With God’s help, we will!”.
21It’s good to pray together, and with that in mind I will be presiding
at the eucharist with this intention at four special (and more or
less identical) services during Lent, at which I hope many of you
and your parishioners will join me:
Tuesday 3rd March St. George, Pontesbury
Monday 9th March St. Mary, Ross on Wye
Saturday 14th March Holy Trinity, Hereford
Wednesday 18th March St. Laurence, Ludlow
On each day the eucharist will start at 11am, will include a period
of extended prayer (with different “ways” available including
silence), and will end by 1pm, with drinks available afterwards.
Please bring a packed lunch if you wish. There is no need to book.
The Leap Year
The calendar, one year in four
Gives February a little more
An extra day! We must be sure!
To wisely use these hours
The weather, not as bitter cold;
The garden weeds have gained no hold;
The early bulbs start to unfold
We welcome crocus flowers!
The sun bestows a little warmth
The winds turn from the bitter north
It is the time to sally forth
From winter sanctuary!
Tis early spring, season sublime
So hearken to my little rhyme -
Enjoy the little extra time
You have in February!
Nigel Beeton writes a poem: We have an extra day in February, and it
is right at the end, just as winter gives way to spring. What a blessing!
22Deanery of Pontesbury
DEANERY NEWS
Rural Dean: The Revd Giles Tulk
The Vicarage, Minsterley
Thought for the Month from Bill Rowell
“Perhaps the only good thing to be said about February is that it’s
short!” a friend of mine told me. Well, this year it’s not quite as
short as usual, since we’re in a Leap Year. And at times it’s been
longer. In Sweden, February 1712 had two Leap Year days added,
so there was a February 30th that year - done to correct the Swe-
dish calendar which was out of synch with others.
“February is a suitable month for dying. Everything around is
dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green
shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard
and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long.”
So wrote the American author and opinion columnist Anna
Quindlen. But I don’t share her pessimism, for I shall spend Febru-
ary looking for signs of Spring. As I write these words in early Jan-
uary I’ve already seen snowdrops and primroses, and by the mid-
dle of February I’m sure there’ll be crocuses poking through, aco-
nites, an early daffodil and maybe a few celandines, and it won’t
be dark till getting on for six o’clock. Winter won’t have finished
with us, I don’t suppose, but it’s not all bad!
In February I begin to get a sense of the year moving on, unlike
the “going nowhere” feel of January. February is when I start to
think about re-creation. And since February contains Pancake Day,
Valentine’s Day and my birthday, I’ll have lots to celebrate! And
then at the end of this month there’s Lent, the season of re-
creation.
This year the first Sunday of Lent is 1st March, so at Leighton will
we be keeping St David’s Day (when we always have a special ser-
vice), or hearing about Jesus tempted in the Wilderness? Well, I’ve
got a month to think about that!
23Meanwhile, two thoughts for February.
The first is that on February 16th, the second Sunday before Lent
(or Sexagesima in old money), we tend now to keep a theme of
“Creation Sunday”, and I’m glad we do. The raging bush fires in
Australia (places where I walked just three or four months ago are
now completely burnt out) are a telling reminder (again) of how
fragile our planet is - along with news of devastating floods in In-
donesia and coastal Tanzania, and a likely famine in Zambia due to
drought. We all need to find ways of lightening our footstep on the
Earth!
Your hopeful New Year resolutions may well have failed to see the
month out. Don’t despair - as Lent begins, what better time to
make new ones (or have another try with the old ones)! Including,
I think, things like using less, buying more locally, thinking about
how we travel and how far, and so on. Even just a few small
changes can help us be healthier selves on a healthier planet.
Healthier in soul as well as in body, I hope. February is sometimes
called “The Month of the Soul”: as we see the days begin to length-
en, may our souls be brighter too.
And my second and last thought is simply this: rejoice in Lent!
Think of it as less a penance, more a blessing - a time given us to
use, to draw closer to God and delight in his re-creating love.
Bill Rowell, Rector of the Chirbury Hills Group
Growing on from Alpha
Deanery training course – Life on the Front Line
This short 6 week course continues in February
at Westbury Church at 7pm.
You do not need to have done the Alpha course to come.
For more details, Ian Williams 07502 105240
or Rev Giles Tulk 01743 790672
QUOTE:
As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day. -
Anon
24TWO DEANERY LENT COURSES
Book of Revelation
A daytime Lent Group will meet on Mondays at 2pm in the Rectory, Plealey Lane,
Longden, on 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd March. Led by Emma Phillips, we will be looking
at the book of Revelation, asking whether it can help our intercessory prayer. Our
aim will be to see past the often sensationalised view of Revelation as a set of pe-
culiar prophecies, and find the dramatic imagery that was written to to help Chris-
tians pray, worship and live faithfully in troubled times! Each session will last
around an hour and a half, and finish with refreshments.
All are welcome - any questions ring Revd Emma Phillips 01743 861003
Soul Spark – An experiential course exploring Prayer and Spiritual Growth.
Do you have a desire to go deeper with your relationship with God? Want to ex-
plore different ways of doing this? Happy with stillness and reflection? Then this
course is for you. Join us as we seek God together.
Led by Revd Graham Phillips (861003) and Carolyn and John Chadwick.
On Tuesdays 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st March 7.30-9pm at The Rectory, Plealey Lane,
Longden.
It’s all in the spelling...
G - God
R - ran
A - alongside
C - carrying
E - everything
QUOTE:
When you get tangled up in your problems, be still. God wants
you to be still so HE can untangle the knot. - Anon
2526
HIGNETTS OF PONTESBURY
PONTESBURY LTD. PHARMACY
Established 1919
Butchers * Bakers Dispensing Chemist
Greengrocers * Flowers * Fish
tel: 01743 790228 Your
Local Community Chemist
SUZANNE “ASK YOUR PHARMACIST”
CLASSIC HAIR Your health is our concern
Our aim is your satisfaction
Main Road, Pontesbury
J.K.Lunt Ltd
Tel: 01743 791186 01734 790273
2728
PHIL GRIFFITHS
Local Plumber
Tap Replacement
and Plumbing Repairs Undertaken.
New Taps Supplied and Fitted.
Full Range available.
Established 35 years.
Tel: 01743 790046
Mobile : 07970 010148
29Pontesbury WI
meets on the
second Monday
of each month
(except August),
at 2.00pm in
Pontesbury Public
Hall.
New members are
always welcome.
For more details
contact
Sandra 01743
791095
To place an advertisement in this magazine, please email: stgsmagazine
@googlemail.com
or phone: Marion Elliott 01743 792256
Disclaimer: each advert in this magazine has been devised by the advertiser in ques-
tion. St. George’s church accepts no responsibility for the standard or quality of goods
and services provided. St. George’s church accepts no liability for any loss or damage
arising from acceptance of any advertised trading.
30What’s on? .... Regular activities...
Little Dragons A fun group for children under five and their Carers,
Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 am in term time only.
Contact: Val Butterworth 790587
or Marion Elliott 792256
Tea service Monthly, first Tuesday of the month, 2.30pm WER
Contact: Marion Elliott 792256
Mothers’ Union Monthly, the 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2.30pm.
Look out for notice of the next meeting.
Contact: Marion Elliott 792256
Messy Church Look out for notices.
Bell ringing Some Thursdays 7:30 - 9:00pm.
Contact: Sheila Bower 790294
practice
Coffee Fridays, 10:00 – 12:00 noon in the WER
Friday Club For children from Reception class to year 6.
Fridays, 6:30 to 7:15pm Contact: Mary Worrall
791069
Youth Club Look out for notices.
Choir practice Fridays, usually 12 noon in the church.
Contact: Val Butterworth 790587
Men’s Breakfast Last Saturday of each month, 8.30am at the
Horseshoes Inn. Contact: Phil Lambert 790857
Prayer Chain Contact: Mary Worrall, in confidence, 791069.
Who let the Dads Look out for notices.
out?
Other activities– see church website or Sunday bulletin.
The West End Room - If You Want To Use it – Please Book It!
To avoid the disappointment of double bookings, please first check availability on
the calendar on the church website, and then book your requirements
with Mary Worrall 791069
31Beetle Drive
And
Pancake Supper
Enjoy the Fun
In the West End Room
on Tuesday, 25th February
7.00 pm.
£5 per adult
To assist catering, it will be useful if
tickets are purchased prior to event.
Tickets from
Val 790587, Mary 791069,
Heather 790359 or at Friday Coffee
Tea/coffee will be served – participants are
invited to bring other drinks as required
to sustain body and spirit.
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