St Mary Magdalene Parish Church

Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Someone s crying, Lord, kum ba yah,
Someone s singing, Lord, kum ba yah,
Someone s grumbling, Lord, kum ba yah,
Someone s praying, Lord, kum ba yah,

Hang on a minute - where did verse three come from?! Mind you I'm coming to the conclusion that grumbling is part of the human condition. I write this as we come to the end of our harvest festival celebrations - and they have been lovely. I don t know the final figure yet, but I shall soon be sending a substantial sum to Send a Cow - the charity we have been supporting for a number of years. But the grumblings are there; "The farmers need our support in this country more than the folk in Africa". Yes of course they need our support and prayers, but are people saying that there are many in this country like Angelique who at age 12 was left with three younger brothers and sisters to support and look after when her parents were killed in the Rwandan genocide, and now at the age of 20 because of the gift of a cow, is able to contemplate returning to school (paid for by selling the milk) and train eventually to be a nurse? Or like Richard who is blind, and up till the time he received a cow from Send a Cow was an economic liability to his family; now he is able to make £1 a day through selling milk, and is soon to be married as he has been able to save £4 a month. He s in his 30s and is rejoicing in his new found wealth!

Surely we are not doing something wrong when we share what we have with those who have so much less? And even by sharing with those in our own villages who do not join us in church? - for that is another grumble. Then of course the colour of the new chairs in church is wrong; mind you chairs of any description are bad news according to some!

I'm sure that at Christmas there won't be more grumbles when we support the Children¹s Society as they target bullying with their work. Bullying in schools in places like Rochdale and London. Bullying in prisons; "You see loads of little kids in here" says one 16 year old, "there's one who won't a have a shower "cos he's scared of being battered." Bullying and young refugees - "I had problems fitting in. You feel isolated" said one 13 year old; "I kept bunking school because I was being bullied. Then I fought back and got kicked out of school." Our Christingle services and carol singing will help light up the darkness so many young people feel, as we support the work of the Children's Society in schools, prisons, amongst refugees and in the wider community.

Sadly there are grumbles in the wider church as well. I write this the day before the conference of Primates in Lambeth, when they will discuss the whole business of homosexual bishops and gay blessings. There is great talk in the press about the Anglican Communion being dissolved over the issue. Dr David Jenkins - yes, he's the previous Bishop of Durham - wonders whether it matters. He speaks, with some justification, about the links between the worldwide Anglican Church and the Empire and says that there is little legal structure that binds the communion together. Even if it were dissolved, the Archbishop would be free to invite as many bishops as he wanted to to the Lambeth Conference every ten years, which in any case existed years before the formal Anglican Communion was given any structure.

In the end the churches around the world should be concerned with the business of sharing the good news of the gospel to all and serving the people amongst whom they live with joy and with love. Let's get rid of the grumbling.

So as we approach the season of goodwill let's reach out to those around us with love and humility, understanding and care, doing no less than Our Lord taught us.

My very best wishes to you all, a Happy Christmas and a healthful and loving 2004.

John Roberts

THE ELEVENTH BENEFICE SUPPER MEETING
Syresham Village Hall on Friday 6th February
Speaker - Canon Dr Michael Ipgrave

For the sake of people who came to Helmdon after Geoff and Ruth Ipgrave retired from Helmdon School, I should introduce their son Michael. Geoff was head from 1957 to 1978 and Ruth his Deputy until he retired early because of increasing deafness. They were much missed. Ruth died in 1985 and Geoff in October as I was writing this for the newsletter. Michael went through the School, and to Magdalen College School in Brackley (as a very little ten year old), then to Oriel College, Oxford, took a double first and was ordained priest in 1983. His father's hearing had been damaged by his years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. At Oriel Michael formed a strong friendship with a Japanese Anglican priest who became a bishop back home, and in 1985 Michael went to work in his diocese for two years. Most of his parish work here has been in Leicester, and in that diocese he took up work in inter-faith relations in 1991. Since 1999 he has been Inter faith
Relations adviser to the Archbishops' Council. I have asked him to discuss Muslim-Christian relations with us.

Carnival Teas - this raised £220 for the Friends' funds - thanks to all who provided cakes and help on the day.

We were blessed with good weather, music, food, drink and best of all the company of friends for this very enjoyable evening. Our special thanks to John & Gill Watson for hosting the event which raised £337 for our funds.

Forthcoming events:

WORDS AND MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS - FRIDAY 19th DECEMBER at 7.30pm

Festive cheer with candles and mulled wine! - why not come along and enjoy singing some of your favourite carols and listen to a programme of Christmas stories, poems and readings, instrumental numbers and groups singing - what better way to take your mind of the Christmas shopping and enter into the spirit of Christmas? Posters will be on notice boards nearer the time.

Vanessa Vicars.

Ckers is continuing to go from strength from strength with the youngsters enjoying various activities from Quizes to a Wizard's Evening and Fireworks. There is also the opportunity for the older group to socialise in the Chapel. We are very grateful to the Carnival Committee who have generously presented us with £100. This will go towards funding our events and providing craft materials and games for us to use with the youngsters.

For further information contact Jane Barnes (01295 760444), Phil Drage (01295 768690), Kathy Quiney (01295 768168) or Louise Stothard (01295 760518).