Remembrancetide
(or, A tune to Remember)
Down the centuries,
November has been a time for remembering.
All Saints' Day (1st November)
is a time not only for recalling the famous Saints but also for remembering
with thanksgiving all those people of past generations who have brought
the light of God's love and truth to a world hi darkness.
The
commemoration of All Souls
is a chance to remember before God all those who have died - family members,
friends and countless others who have accompanied us on our journey of
life, but are now no longer with us.
A Service of Commemoration
will be held in St Mary's Church at 4.00 pm on Sunday
1 November, to which all are warmly invited. A list of
names will be read out at the service; if you would like to add the names
of your own loved ones who have died, please write them on the list which
you will find on the table near the door in St Mary's.
Finally, on Sunday 8 November the churches will host the village's annual Service of Remembrance, beginning at 10.30am at St Mary's: a chance to remember all those who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace and in defence of the nation.
Thought for the Month
Here we are in the early dark nights of November, a year which has flown by, at least in my reckoning. For me it is a time of reflection; thinking about how I have been in the last year, looking at my relationship with people, how I have fulfilled my ministry. Also, I reflect on the past thinking about my deceased parents and many friends as we celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls. My parents guided me in my early years and supported me in my decision to become a priest; they didn't push me but left me to decide. During my years of formation many people helped me and many have continued to do so through my priestly ministry. In the United States of America it is the month of Thanksgiving and I take this time to thank them. We can so often in life take people for granted and forget to give them thanks.
We remember those who gave their lives in the wars so that we may live in peace. It is important we do not let their efforts and sacrifice be in vain but we need to be peacemakers in our everyday life. On Remembrance Sunday let us give thanks for all they did for us and try to learn from them. Our family relationships and other relationships of daily life should be working towards creating a community of love, faith and hope. We should try to stand back from our activities and look at where our life is going and how are we using the gifts that have been given to us. At the end of the month we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, when we prepare for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Make it a time of rebirth for us all so that our community can be renewed.
J Kennedy
18 - 25 October is One World Week and the 2009 theme is "HUNGRY FOR ONE WORLD"
In 1978, One World Week (OWW) was founded by the World Development Movement out of a desire that, for one week in every year, the churches should draw their attention of their communities to the fact that the world consists of one human race which shares one planet in which all may enjoy fullness of life. OWW has become known throughout the UK and developed an international reputation for bringing people together to learn about global issues and to take action locally on things which have an impact on the whole world.
See www.oneworldweek.org and www.wdm.org.uk among others.
A
New Academic Year Begins
The young people of our community start a new academic year this month.
Some are going to school for the first time, some starting a new school
and some starting important exam years. So, this month, let us add to
our prayers all the young people in our schools and colleges, their teachers
and all those in our community involved in education.
Thought
for the Month
In Yorkshire recently on a walk, my husband and I reached a roaring
waterfall, where we decided to break for a picnic. We sat beside this
great tumult of white water, where the noise was so great we were almost
unable to hear each other speak. We enjoyed our picnic; but afterwards,
having walked only a little way upstream, we were stunned by the sudden
silence. We stood for quite some time, watching the clear, smooth water
rushing on its journey towards the cascade, when Ed said something very
profound... "You don't appreciate the quiet waters until you have
seen the rough."
It's true. Life seems to treat us quite roughly sometimes. In the bible,
the book of Isaiah speaks of those who are "afflicted - storm tossed
and not comforted." We may go through times when everything seems
to go wrong at the same time, and it just doesn't seem fair, in fact,
it may be hard sometimes even to cope.
So, who is there when life gets like this? When it seems there is no one
to turn to? Some people visit their GP or nurse, some may have family
to call on, some may not express how they feel, and seek to find solace
in anger, alcohol, the TV, drugs etc. The truth is every single one of
us, however intelligent, however clever, whatever job we are (or are not)
in, need support and an anchor in times of trouble.
Let me be bold and say that the only trustworthy, reliable and faithful
anchor is God, and his promises to NEVER leave you or forsake you, are
forever, for everyone. I have found that myself in my little storm, and
I hope you can too. As D L Moody once said, "Some people think God
does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The
way to trouble God is not to come at all".
So enjoy life when -you are in the fan, happy times, in the smooth deep
water with all is blessings. But when you are in the middle of the storm,
being tossed around, the anchor of a vibrant, living relationship with
God through Jesus Christ is what will ensure you reach the bottom of that
waterfall safely, to continue your journey through life. Seek him in whichever
way you can.
Debbie Newson
New
Arrivals in Buckden
We wish all of you a happy and fruitful stay in the village. You will
be welcome at our churches. Do make yourselves known to the minister
or priest or indeed any member of the congregation. Details of services
may be found on the churches' own websites.
Festival Week
We shall be at the Saturday Fete on 11 July with some family entertainment
and Fair Trade goods for sale. Do call in and say hello.
As part of the long-standing Buckden Festival Week tradition, village
societies have been invited to provide flower arrangements around St
Mary's Church. Everyone is very welcome to visit St Mary's to view them
and perhaps reflect on how fortunate we are to live in this community.
Songs of Praise on Sunday 12 July at 6.00pm
Again, following tradition, on Sunday evening, there will be a service
of thanksgiving in St Mary's to mark the end of the week. Thanksgiving
for so many things, especially for the work of the organisers, 'doers'
and contributors who will have made the events of Festival Week available
to us all and for the support given to the Village Hall Trust. The service
will include well-known hymns and readings and we will be surrounded
by the flower displays.
Christian Aid — Thank you!
The Christian Aid Coffee Morning raised a magnificent £523 and
the house-to-house collection this year raised £2062.87 (with
reclaimed Gift Aid still to be added to this total). A huge thank you
to everyone who has supported Christian Aid this year, in whatever way.
Thought for the month ...
What is it that we are celebrating during Feast Week? Certainly, it's
a chance to give thanks for all that's good about life here, and in
particular for the diversity of social, sporting, educational and other
groups that contribute towards the richness of Buckden life. The variety
of organisations who bring a stall to the playing field on 11 July is
impressive, as are the people who run them all.
But Feast Week is also a celebration that this village is more than
the sum of its parts.
What does it take to make a village into a community? Not just institutional
goodwill, but real, personal goodwill. Not just official good-neighbourliness,
but real attentiveness to each other's needs. Not just something for
everyone, but everyone taking a genuine interest in what makes each
other tick.
St Paul wrote in his first letter to the early church in Corinth:
The body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot
-were to say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body',
that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear •were
to say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body', that
would not
make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye,
where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would
the sense of smell be?,.. As it is, there are many members, yet one
body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you', nor again
the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the
members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those
members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater
honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;
whereas our more respectable members do not need this. ...If one member
suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all
rejoice together with it.
Apologies for a lengthy quotation, but those words seem so apt for a
month in which we celebrate that we are what we are in Buckden because
of everyone. So find a reason today to give thanks for something about
village life that on the face of it seems to be nothing to do with you
- and ask God's blessing on our corporate celebration of that fact that
we are better together.
God bless you all,
Ally (Revd Ally Barrett, St Mary's Church)
Welcome
If you are new to Buckden Village, interested in knowing more about what it means to be a Christian or curious about what we believe, please do contact one of the Ministers listed here or any members of the congregations that you see involved with one of the churches. You can be sure of a warm welcome and listening ear.
And if you would like to come and meet us in an informal way, why not bring your picnic to our Church's Birthday Picnic from 4.30pm on Sunday 31 May in the beautiful grounds of Buckden Towers. It will be very much a family occasion with entertainment, garden games and a birthday cake. It should be an ideal opportunity to meet people from the village and surrounds. Again, you can be sure of a warm welcome.
... Thought for the month
As we enter June we are hoping for good weather and are thinking of our holidays, our time of rest. Perhaps we are not going abroad this year because of the credit crunch but we will need to rest from our normal daily activities. On 31 May we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. We Christians believe that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and changed them from people who were afraid, to strong people ready to proclaim the Gospel message. Jesus was sent by the Father with a message and we listen to this message and then follow it. I have to learn to listen and then I can listen to learn. It is not easy to listen. We have two ears and one mouth but at times it seems we have two mouths and one ear. We need to listen to the Spirit so we can live out the gospel message. The Spirit never goes on holiday. Jesus tells us, "If you forgive, you are forgiven, ff you show mercy, you will receive your compassion. Judge not and you will not be judged. The measure you use to give to others is the measure used in giving lo you ..."
There was a young boy who decided to become a saint. He went down to the library and got several books on the lives of the saints to find a role model. He chose St Simon Stylites, who had lived on top of a high pillar in the middle of the town square. So he got a chair in the kitchen and stood on it. Shortly after his mother wanted to get to the sink so he had to move the chair. Then his sister wanted to get something out of the fridge and he had to move again. His brother then came in the back door and knocked him off the chair. He had to abandon his effort and he declared, "It's not 'possible to become a saint at home".
The reality is that it is not possible to become a saint anywhere else.
Fr Jim Kennedy CMF St Hugh's RC Church
Christian Aid Week 10 - 16 May 2009
Despite all our current difficulties, we all know that there are many more people in the rest of the world who have far greater problems. Christian Aid Week is a way that we can all help them. It is widely publicised in the media an an envelope will be delivered and collected at every house. Please be as generous as you can with your donation.
In addition, there will be a Christian Aid Coffee Morning on Wednesday 13 May 2009 from 10.00 to 11.30 am in the Millennium Community Centre. There will be stalls, a raffle, tea, coffee, cakes and more.
Church's Birthday Picnic - Sunday Afternoon 31 May at The Towers
The Feast of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian Church and in recent years, Buckden Churches Together have celebrated this together. Please come along with your picnic and join us to enjoy a family birthday party picnic in the beautiful and historic grounds of Buckden Towers. There will be games, a roving entertainer and, of course, a birthday cake.
Dates and Periods in the Church Year - What do they Signify?
Good Friday — 10 April - is the day we commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Although so many of the human failings were seen on that day. betrayal, injustice, brutality, cruelty, letting others down, failure to stand up for what is right, it showed that God loves us, forgives us and redeems us because it led to the triumph of Easter.
Buckden Churches Together will be marking this day with a special service at the Green at 11.00 am. Everyone from the village and surrounding villages is welcome. It lasts about 45 minutes and there will be coffee and hot cross buns in the Methodist Hall afterwards.
Easter Sunday - 12 April - is the day we celebrate Jesus returning to life - that all the hatred and darkness in the world, and even death itself, were no match for the light and love of God. It is at the very heart of Christian belief and for that reason, is widely regarded as the most significant feast in the Christian calendar. Services to mark this wonderful event in humankind's history will be held in all our churches and throughout the world.
THE CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BUCKDEN WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE THE JOY AND BLESSINGS OF THIS EASTER.
...Thought for the month
Dear All,
We come this month into what is arguably the most important season of the Christian year. Martin Luther said: ""If you want to understand the Christian message, you must start with the wounds of Christ." For Christians the death of Jesus Christ is central to our faith. The Bible tells us that it was planned by God before the world began, and it was prophesied (in considerable detail) in the Old Testament, and Jesus prepared His followers to expect it.
And this death was unique - in that it was not a martyrdom but a sacrifice. He freely and voluntarily died for us to set us free from the awful burden of our sin, taking away the very thing that separates us from God. The forgiveness and peace made possible by the death of Jesus is available for all, as the Bible says: "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"!
It was followed by what has been called "'the best attested fact
in history" - the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Here
is the evidence that God accepted Christ's sacrifice of Himself as our
sin-bearer. Because Jesus was raised from death we know two things that
make all the difference to life and death. First of all we know that there
is a glorious life after death, for the great silence surrounding death
has been broken by his resurrection. And secondly (and no less importantly)
we know that there is a great life before death! We can enjoy life that
has both meaning and purpose, lived in the light of the great promise
of Jesus, who after His resurrection was able to say to His disciples:
"I am with you always"!
Many people today are struggling to find meaning and purpose in life, and are conscious of living in uncertain times, when so many of those cherished institutions that seemed so permanent are crumbling around us! Here in the message of Easter is something that is unchanging and unchangeable. Why not come along to Church this Easter? You might find that your life will never be the same again!
Happy Easter! God bless you all.
Paul (Baptist Minister for Perry and Offord)
Dates and Periods in the Church Year - What do they Signify?
Traditionally, Lent is a time of fasting and for reflecting on the purpose and conduct of our lives. We might think about the fragility and messiness of our world and the part our own lives play in that. We can then confess to God the things that we have done wrong and the things we didn't do, but ought to have! Some Christians still fast each Lent, but for many others it is symbolized by going without a favourite treat (often chocolate), while others use the opportunity to take on an extra discipline of prayer or study in order to draw closer to God, or perhaps some extra voluntary work to help those in need.
The day before lent starts is Shrove Tuesday when traditionally pancakes are made to use up all the 'luxury' cooking ingredients such as eggs and sugar before Lent starts!
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (25 February this year) with the tradition of making the sign of the cross on people's foreheads with a mixture of ash and oil, with the words 'Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return" as a graphic reminder of this reality of our lives. Lent then lasts for 40 days until Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, which commemorates the drama and brutality of the Crucifixion followed by the joy and celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday (12 April).
Mothering Sunday - the fourth Sunday in Lent (22 March) - it is also known as Refreshment Sunday (when those fasting may relax their regime). It is an opportunity to remember and give thanks for our 'mother church', in her rote of nurturing God's children in the faith, and also for the love and nurturing of our own mothers as well as, importantly, our whole families.
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Thought for the month
Dear Friends
By the time you read this, I hope and pray that the snowy weather and flooding (and all the resulting disruption) will be over for another winter. Even now, when the snow started to melt in my garden, I was able to see the first of the snowdrops starting to push their way bravely out of the soil! and into the cold air. Every year I am amazed that something so small and fragile-looking can survive and thrive in such adverse circumstances.
New life and hope is something that we associate with Easter, as we remember Jesus rising again from death. But new life can also be something for Lent, too -even if you are giving up things (tea, coffee, chocolate, or whatever) for these forty days, Lent doesn't have to be a time for being miserable and frustrated with yourself when keeping the discipline you have set for yourself is hard.
Lent can be a really fruitful time, for rediscovering what is really important: what things are truly and ultimately life-giving. 'Love life: live Lent' is one way of grasping this. It's a booklet suggesting one simple life-affirming action for each day of Lent, focused on areas such as the family, the local community, the wider world, the environment, and on God himself. Each action is a very small way of being part of the new life and new hope for the world that we all long for - if we look around at the world and think we can't do anything to change it, then try looking back at the parks and gardens, and see how each fragile snowdrop in the frost is - against the odds - a sign of the coming spring.
Lent looks forward to Easter, to the celebration of new life that God has given us in Jesus Christ. So for Lent this year, why not do something that will enable you to live more fully the life God has given you? If you would like a copy of the excellent little booklet 'Love life - live Lent' (there's one for children, and a separate one for adults and young people) so that you can take part in one simple action for each day of Lent, these are available from St Mary's or at the weekly Buckden Churches Together study lunches (Mondays during March at 12.30 at the Methodist Church - all welcome).
'Thought for the month' is the new name for 'pastoral letter'. Each month it is written by a member (sometimes a minister) from one of the local churches. Feedback is always welcome. This month, it was written by Revd Ally Barrett, Vicar of St Mary's.
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Click here to find
the individual Churches' web sites.
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Annual
General Meeting
Buckden Churches Together are to held their AGM on Monday
9 March 2009 at 7.30pm in the Meeting Room at The Towers.
Thank you
A big 'Thank you' to all who came to the Village Carol Service and gave so generously. The collection was again up on the previous year. Donations of £140 each were given to three local charities, Cross Roads Young Carers (Huntingdonshire), St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger and Littlehey Visitors' Centre. We were also able to give £100 to the Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge.
Pastoral Letter from
St Hugh's
St Valentine's Day as a lovers' festival and the modern tradition of
sending cards have no relation to the two legendary martyrs named Valentine.
Rather it seems to be connected with the Roman fertility festival.
Our celebration of St Valentine's Day and our general knowledge that love is "what makes the world go round" prompts us to ask the question, 'What is true love anyhow?'
Love is so important that the ancient classical Greeks had at least three words for it in comparison with English's one. They had 'eros' which meant love in the sense of desire, a thing of life. Eros is commemorated in Piccadilly Circus where there is a fountain topped by a winged archer which its sculptor in 1893 intended as the Angel of Christian Charity. But everyone knows it today as Eros.
The highest form of love for the Greeks was 'agape', which had overtones of the spiritual. It entailed giving more than getting. It had to do mostly with person -God and God - person relationships. Self-sacrifice is the language of love. Children know how to love in a whole-hearted way. A boy kept all his pocket money for weeks as he wanted to surprise his mother with a decent gift for her birthday.
Many times love is beautiful in old people. In them love is stronger than death. The love is present when he has become skinny and bald, she grey and frazzled.
For us Christians, Christ reduced whole law to love.
The third Greek word for love was 'philia', love of friendship. There
are friendships based on passion, on pity, on pleasure, on companionship
etc. All friendships must be voluntary.
Let us remember to love, not less but more. More love is the answer to the world's ills; it has a power to transform. Let us try and love each other, in spite of our weaknesses and failures.
Fr Jim Kennedy CMF
Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity 2009
This year the worldwide week of prayer begins on Sunday
18 January and the theme (chosen by the churches in
Korea) is Reconcile Your People,
a theme which will guide our prayers during the week. In Buckden, our
clergy will be exchanging pulpits for the main morning services on Sunday
18 January and that afternoon we shall be enjoying a
walk together (well... more of a stroll, actually) followed by tea and
cakes in the Methodist Hall with a short service of prayer and praise
- all are welcome.
Whatever tradition you follow, or even if you're not especially involved
with any of the churches, please do take this opportunity to meet some
of the many Christians in the village and get to know more. You will
be most welcome.
Pastoral
Letter
Christmas may well be over by the time you read this and we begin a
new year. Time we think to make resolutions. We will get fitter by going
to a gym, we will write more often to our family members etc, but how
many resolutions do we keep. Through the years I have made many promises
at this time but my track record in keeping these promises was not too
good, because I always seemed to be making many of the very same promises
I made before. Call it maturity, common sense or simply desperation
but in recent years I have stopped making promises. I have now turned
my attention to the promises Jesus makes to me.
He promises to send
the Holy Spirit and he also promises that he will never abandon us or
desert us even in times of trouble.
'Heaven and earth will pass away before my word passes away'.
Most of us were reared to achieve something. Good results in school were praised, medals won in singing or dancing competitions were displayed with pride. All of this is only right. However, it can present certain problems when transferred over to the spiritual field. Only God can do a God thing. Jesus promises the Spirit but it is only the same Spirit that can enable us to be open to that truth and to avail of that offer. Let us open ourselves to that Spirit. Let us recognize that we all have a part to play within the mission of the Church and fulfill that mission.
May you and your family have a peaceful and joyful New Year.
Jim Kennedy, St Hugh's
Advent
(30 November to 24 December) *
The word Advent means 'coming'. In these four weeks leading up to Christmas,
we prepare for Jesus Christ coming among us: we look back to his birth
2000 years ago, and we look forward to his hoped-for return as King
and Judge at the end of history. Advent is traditionally a time for
putting ourselves right with God - in church there may be more opportunities
for confession and forgiveness, as part of how we prepare ourselves
to 'make room for Jesus' in our lives.
Christmas
(25 December onwards)
Christmas is the festival during which Jesus' birth is celebrated. Christians
believe that in Jesus, God became a human being, choosing to live as
one of us so that we, in turn, might draw closer to him. The word 'Emmanuel',
found in many Christmas carols, means 'God is with us'. This is the
simple message at the heart of the Christmas story, but the season of
Christmas has many colourful traditions attached to it, some Christian
in origin, and some from other sources. Details of special services
for Christmastide will be found by clicking
here.
New
to Buckden
If you visiting or have recently moved here, we hope that your stay
will be happy and enjoyable. You will be very welcome at our churches.
Do make yourselves known to the minister or priest or indeed any member
of the congregation! Details of ministers are given
here.
We wish the Peace and Blessings of Christmas
to everyone
Pastoral
Letter
Christmas makes me think of beginnings and endings - whether it is the
imminent end of the year, or the beginning of a new one, the end of
resolutions that didn't make it, or the making of new ones on our thoughts.
Or perhaps the end of spending, and the beginning of debt!!!
For Christians, I think it is important to think how our relationship with God has been this year, and what we have achieved. God gave us a commission - in Matthew 28:18-20 - telling us to go and preach the gospel; however this comes accompanied by Matthew 10:7-8 - 'As you go, proclaim this message: "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy (perhaps the modern day HIV?), drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.' This is the mandate of every Christian, and the power of God is available to all to do these things in the name of Jesus and by his power and authority. And don't think that you are too small or insignificant - it is exactly by those who are nothing in this world that God moves powerfully.
It is simple really - ask God for these gifts and he will give them to you - try it! Don't think this is all religious nonsense and not for you. Give God your life today, and see what he will make of it! It will be more wonderful than anything you could have done yourself! Ask and keep on asking until you meet with the living God in a way that so powerfully changes your life, like the great people we hear of in the bible or even today who do pray for the dead and see them raised! God will not disappoint you - he is always faithful to his promises.
So perhaps your challenge this year could be to use new spiritual gifts? A new relationship with God? A renewed power and authority and passion for those lost and suffering? Let's make this our desire this year, let's make this our passion. Let's live the stuff we preach and sing about?!
Debbie
Newson
Baptist Group, part of Churches Together in Buckden